UC-NRLF 

III    II 

Cuneiform  Texts 


i\  1 ' 


Metropolitan  Museum  ol  Art 


EDITED   AND  TRANSLATED 

I'V 

A  L  F  R  I^  r>    !'.    M  ()  1 . 1)  1%  N  K  F.    Pi !.    D. 


I'unr.isHFM    I'M-;     !"!     MrsKUM 


1  .-^0  ^ 


GIFT  OF 
HORACE  W.  CARPENTIER 


Cuneiform  Texts 


IN   THE 


Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art 


EDITED   AND   TRANSLATED 

i!Y 

ALFRED    B.  MOLDENKE,    Ph.    D. 


Published    for    thk    Museum 
NEW   YORK 

»893 


•  ••  •  • 
• ,  •  •  • 
;•  •  •    • 


PREFACE  TO  PARTS  I.  &  II, 


In  undertaking  the  publication  of  the  cuneiform  texts  in  the  Metropolitan 
Museum  of  Art  of  New  York  City,  I  was  prompted  by  the  desire  to  render 
this  small  but  interesting  treasure  accessible  to  students  of  the  Semitic 
languages. 

These  two  parts  are  the  first  of  a  series  of  seven  parts  to  be  published 
as  quickly  as  time  permits.  The  texts  referred  to,  are  divided  into  two 
collections,  known  as  the  "  Egihi,"  and  the  "  Ward"  collections.  The 
former  was  purchased  in  1878  from  the  British  Museum,  and  the  latter 
from  the  Rev.  Dr.  W.  H.  Ward  of  the  Wolfe  Expedition,  by  Gen.  C.  P.  di 
Cesnola.  the  Director  of  the  Museum.  Part  I  contains  21  texts  of  the  Egibi, 
and  Part  II,  35  of  the    Ward  collection. 

Part  I  was  published  by  me  in  June  of  this  year  under  the  title  Babylonian 
Contract  Tablets  in  the  Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art.  The  causes  that  led 
me  to  republish  it  here  were  numerous  and  weighty.  Chief  among  them  I 
may  mention  that  the  volume  was  published  as  a  doctor's  dissertation,  and 
in  the  hurry  to  get  the  book  into  print,  many  typographical  errors  were 
overlooked,  and  mistakes  that  should  have  been  corrected,  were  left  untouched. 
I  trust  that  in  the  present  voluine  all  such  errors  will  have  been  avoided. 
Another  cause  was  the  desire  of  the  Museum  authorities  to  have  some  publi- 
cation of  their  collections  to  offer  to  inquiring  strangers  and  to  the  learned 
public.  I  regret  that  time  did  not  permit  me  to  have  the  Babylonian  equivalents 
of  many  of  the  Assyrian  signs  cast.  With  the  type  at  my  disposal,  however, 
the  cuneiform  text  has  been  made  to  appear  as  similar  as  possible  to  the 
original  writing  on  the  contract  tablets.  Also  in  the  transliteration  many 
peculiarities  will  be  found,  which  I  have  seen  fit  to  discard  in  succeeding 
parts.  Part  I  must,  in  fact,  be  considered  a  book  by  itself,  complete  and 
independent  of  any  other  part.  The  indices  of  Part  I  have  also  been  incor- 
porated in  the  preface  instead  of  being  placed  at  the  end  as  in  the  first 
edition.  The  correspondence  of  such  letter  as  li,  «,  k,  etc.,  to  Hebrew  letters 
will  be  readily  seen. 

Part  II  will  be  found  to  be,  I  trust,  an  improvement  upon  Part  I.  Not 
only  is  the  type  of  the  cuneiform  text  exactly  similar  (excepting  peculiarities  of 
hand-writing  of  the  individual  scribes)  to  the  original  characters  on  the 
contract  tablets,  but  the  distinction  between  the  transliteration  and  the  trans- 
lation  is   brought   out   more   clearly  by  the   use   of    Italic   type   for  the   former 

,  \ 
435804 


iv  Preface  to  Parts  L  &  11. 

instead  of  Antique  Roman.  The  notes  have  also  been  made  as  short  as 
possible,  and  they  confine  themselves  to  explanations  of  the  text  and  to  refer- 
ences.   They  have  been  relegated  to  the  end. 

The  remaining  texts  in  the  Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art  have  been  divided 
for  publication  as  follows : 

Part  III  will  contain  Nos.  i-io  of  the  Egibt,  and  Nos.  16-45  of  the 
Ward  collection,  Total :  40  Texts  of  the  reigns  of  Nebuchad- 
nezzar, Amelu-Marduk  and  Nergalsharusur. 
Part  IV  will  contain  Nos.  32-36  of  the  Egibt  and  Nos.  66-77  of  the 
Ward  collection.  Total:  17  texts  of  the  reigns  of  Cyrus  and 
Cambyses. 
Part  V  will  contain   Nos.    37-56  of    the    Egibt,   and    Nos.    78-120  of    the 

Pf'ar// collection.    Total:  51  texts,  chiefly  of  Darius. 
Part  VI  will    contain    about    50  undated    contract    tablets,  5    belonging    to 

the  Egibi  collection. 
Part  VII  will   contain  all   the  Assyrian,  Babylonian   and  Accadian   texts  of 
the   Ward  collection  not  included  in  any  of  the  other  parts. 

In  conclusion  I  wish  to  express  my  most  sincere  thanks  to  the  Museum 
authorities,  especially  to  Gen.  C.  P.  di  Cesnola  and  to  Prof.  I.  H.  Hall,  for 
their  kind  and  liberal  treatment  and  for  the  manifold  facilities  that  they  have 
courteously  placed  at  my  disposal.  Also  to  my  brother,  the  Rev.  Dr.  C.  E. 
Moldenke,  who  is  at  present  publishing  a  catalogue  of  the  Museum's  magni- 
ficent collection  of  Egyptian  antiquities,  I  wish  to  express  my  thanks  for  his 
kind  help,  especially  in  the  drawing  and  procuring  of  the  signs  that  are  so 
frequently  used  in  Part  II,  and  will  be  required  for  the  publication  of  the 
remaining  parts. 

New  York  City,  ) 

Oct.  1st,  1893.      \  A.  B.  MOLDENKE. 


PART  I. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2008  with  funding  from 

IVIicrosoft  Corporation 


http://www.archive.org/details/cuneiformtextsinOOmoldrich 


LIST  OF  BUUKS  yUUTKD,    AND  ABBREVIATIONS. 


AbbIi  ttnd  Wikckt.er,  Keilschrifttexto  ziim  Gebraiirh  hci  Vorlesungen.  (Sanhe- 
ril),  Asaihiiddon)  Horlin  1800. 

BeitrJisp  ziir   Assyriologic  und  Vcrgleichendon  Scmitischeii  Sprachwissonschaft. 

herausgegeben  von  Fr.  Dclitzsch  iind  P.  Haupt.   Leipzig  1889  - 1892.    .    .    B  A 

BuirxNOW,  R,  E„  A  Classified  List  *c.  Loydcn  1889, 

Delitzsch,  Fr.,  Assyrischc  Grammatik.  Berlin  1889. 

"         Assyrische  Lesestflcke.  Dritte  Auflage.  (Sintflutbericht)  LeipziK  1886. 

"  Assyrische  Studien.  Ileft  I.  Leipzig  1874. 

Babylonian  and  Oriental  Record.  London.  .....  BOIt 

Hoffmann,  Ausziige  aus  syrisohen  Aeten  persischer  Miirtyrer.  Leipzig  1880. 

HoMMEii,  F.,  Geschichte  Babyloniens  und  Assyriens.  Berlin  1885-1889. 

Jensen,  P.,  Die  Kosniologie  der  Babylonier.  Strassburg  1890. 

Lagarde.  p.,  Agathangehis.  i  Abhandluniren  der  Koniglichen  Gesellschaft  der 
Wissenschaften  zii  Gottingen,  Vol.  XXXV)  1887. 

LOTZ,  \V.,  Die  Prisma -In.schrift  des  assyr.  Konigs  Tiglathpileser  I.  Leipzig  1880.  .  LTP 

Peiser,  F.  E.,   Babylonische  Vertrttge  des  Berliner  iluseums.  Berlin  1890.  .  Bab.  Ver, 

"  Keilschriftliche  Actensttieke.  Berlin  1889. 

PoGNON,  H.,  L'inscription  de  Bavian.  Paris  1879. 

Sayce,  a.  H.,  Lectures  on  the  Origin  and  Growth  of  Religion  (Hibberd  Lectures). 
London  1877. 

ScHRCEDER,  Phoniclschc  Sprache  rait  Entwurf  einer  Grammatik.  Halle  1869. 

Sitzungsbericht  der  Koniglichen  Akaderaie  der  Wissenschaften  zu  Berlin.  1889. 

Smith,  P.,  Thesaiu'us  Syriacus.  Clarendon  Press,  Oxon.  1879. 

Smith,  .S.  A.,  Keilschrifttexte  Asurbanipals.  Leipzig  1887  -  1889. 

STRAS.SMAIER,  J.  N,,  Babylonische  Tcxtc,  Heft  I- VIT.  Inschriften  von  Xaboni- 
dus,  Nabuchodonosor  und  Cyrus,  von  den  Thontafeln  des  Britischcn  Mu- 
seums copiert  &c.  Leipzig  1887-1890.        .        .        ,        Straus.  Nabn.,  Nhk.,  Cyr. 

Strassmaier,  J.  N.,  Inschriften  im  Museum  zu  Liverpool.  Leyden  188.'>. 

"  Verhandlungen  des   5  ten  Internationalen  Orientalisten  Congresses 

zu  Berlin.  1881. 

TaLiLqvist,  K.  L.,  Die  Sprache  der  Contractc  Nabft-na'ids.  Helsingfors  1890.  .      '/.iMg. 

TiELE,  C.  P.,  Babylonisch-assyrische  Geschichte.  Gotha  1886-1888. 

Zeitschrift  fur  Assyriologie.  Leipzig  1883  - 1892.            .            .            .            .  Z  A. 

Zeitschrift  der  Deutschen  Morgeniandischen  Gesellschaft.     .           .           .  ZJJMG 


INDEX  OF  PUOPEK  NAMES. 

The  superior  numerals  r^rr  to  the  lines  of  the  tablets,  while  the  other  numerals  refer  to  the  tahlelt. 


I.  CITIES. 


[dln]Babilu  11  '» '•  12^'  "  13  >'  ■»  14" 
15  M  16  16  >'  17  »♦  18  la  [19  "]  20  "6 
21  so  aa  9^  >'  >'  23  ''■'  '*  24  '"  25  '"  "" 
26  32  3«  27  >'  i«  as  "  *'  <{0  '"  30  *'  " 
81 1» 


Nisannu  26"  28>»29»« 
Aim  22'  14"' 
Simanu  30  '  * 
Dftzu  25  "31  •' 
Ululu  27"  17*  »♦ 


Babilu  14  "   16  '»   17  »  '«  20  »»  24  «♦  29  " 
Barsiba  18  • » 
am  Bit-Sar-i  31  » » 
amKa8-8ur(P)13» 


II.  MONTHS. 


TaSritu  13  '» 
Samna  27  ♦  "^  15  »* 

Samna-am-a  21 '" 
Sabatu  19  »  20  *  •♦  23  >' 24  »' 
Adam  11  '"  12  ^'  16  "  18  "  aa"  23' 


III.  GODS. 


Bll  21»'25>» 
Ou-la  24  " 
aarri-lfu  17  "  25  »» 


Na-na  17  >»  .30  '  • 
Ninip  16  *  *^ 
Sa-maS  18  ' 


:V.  PERSONS. 


Ai  11  ♦  22  '' 

ill!  t-a-na-jir  25  » 

Uu  A-ba-ba-ti-la  27  ' 

Ab-la-a  30" 

Ab-la-da  18  » 

Ib-nsra  21  '" 

1-gi-bi  12  M4  '«  20  ♦  "  21 '  '»  22  "  23 "  28 ' 

29  »  31  ^  »  26  '  '» 
Idanin-Nabd  18  '» 

Id-dara  25  * 


Iddin- 21 » 

Iddiu-Bil  23  » 

Iddin-Marduk  17  '   »    18  >  23  »»  24  »  25  » 
28  »»    19  » 

la-ha-ta  21  » 

Iddin-Naba  20  »'  29  ■"  31  « 
Iddin-ua-hu-nun-ti-i6-Marduk  28  " 
Iddin-na-Naba  21  " 
Aha-ba-ni  17  »«  25  »« 
t^ir-Marduk  22  " 
l^ir-fia-na-nim  12  * 


The  Metropolitan  Museu/m  of  Art. 


U-ka-ga-tu-ra-fiad  30  * 

»u  lUatu-u  11  »  14  " 

1-mid-Bu  19  • 

Amtu  28" 

t-sag-gil-ai  26  " 

A-pak-kal-ia  26  " 

Ipi-ifi-ilu  13  »  14  '  •  22  '  ♦  30  • « 

Ikbi-[Marduk]  20  ' 

I^ifia-apla  26  '• 

Hfl-Sarapla  17  ="  18  "  23  "  24  »  »  26  ♦  28 

31  • 
A-ra-bi  17  ' 
Ir-ba-Marduk  14  »« 
Ardi-ia  29 '■^ 

Arad-Bil  13  »♦  ""22  '»29" 
Arad-Marduk  21  •"  22  '  25  •  " 
Arad-Nirgal  22  •■'  25  '» 
A-6a-a-na-6ad  25  * 
It-ik-kal-a  15  » 

It-ti- 25"' 

Itti- 29  "• 

Itti-Marduk- -balat.u  26  ' 

Itti-Marduk-balat.u  2(i  «  27  ' 
Itti-Nabft-balatu  29  "  31  '" 

Ba-bu-tu  12  ""  26  «  "' 
Babu-u-tu  27  ' ' 
Ba-la-$ull  '26" 

BU- 15  " 

BU-uballi-if  15  '"  •» 

BU-ibni  31  • 

Bil-iddin  13  »  "  ''^  "  14  '  20  ♦  '  "• 

Bil-di-hir  29" 

Bil-idanin  28  '^ 

Bil-zir-ibni  26  '• 

Bil-afel-iddin  27  " 

Bil-afeI-i]fe:i-Sa  19  * 

Bil-^arran  17  " 

BU-iflr  27  • 


BU-Hir  31  '  • 
Bil-Hi-ru  11  •  29  " 
Bil-kasir  12  '» 
BU-Marduk  27  • 
Bll-nayir  25  •'" 

Bil-apal-iddin  11  '"  19  •  24  »  '» 
Bll-pat-ta-nu  12  ' ' 
Bll-UfMa  16  "30«  » 
Bil-ri-man-ni  12  "  24  » 
BilH§um-i«ku-un  23  "* 
Bll-4u-nu  12  "  19^  30  » 
Bani-ia  20  '  * 
Bani-i-a  11  »  29  «  » 
Bani-um-ma-gu  27  '« 
Ba-ni-ia  12  "  15  M6  •  '•  20  '\?) 
Bani-a-tu-i-aag-ila  16  •  '• 
Bit^ti-ia  21  ••25" 

Ou-la-ri-nin-ni  11  M2  '  '•  »» 

Da-bi-ia  13  >• 
Da-bi-lii  21  " 
Du-ub-bi  20  ' ' 
Du-um-mu^  13  '* 
Dan-a  11  " 
Di-na-a  .30  •» 
>'u  Dalnu-zir-ibni  30  »• 

Zir-ai  21  '• 
Zi-ri-ia  15  "  27  » 
Zir-ukin  24  " 
Zir-atu  22  »* 

Haran-na-'-Su  16 " 
Hu-nu-ti-ti6-Sama6-bala(u  11  * 
Hu-pu-u  28  ♦ 

Ka-di-di  14" 
Ka-di-nu  12  '» 


Index  of  Proper  Names, 


XI 


Kal-oc-a  21  ■'  "  ai  [-J  •  " 
Ku-up-pu-ut-tum  29  •  »  '"  "■•' 
Ki-rib-ti  21  " 

La-a-ba-di  ~7  ' 
La-di-pi  30  '» 
Lu-u|f-a-na-n£lri-Marduk  21  '* 

Man-di-di  1.1  >♦  .'JO  ♦  '« 
Mu-sal-li-mu  25  ' 
Mu-sal-lim-mu  IT  '"' 
Mi-sir-ai  2(5  '" 
Mi-sa-tum  22  « 
Marduk-ban-zir  .'U  '" 
Marduk-iddin  21  ''  29  " 
Marduk-zir-ibni  14  '^'^ 
Marduk-iti-ir  12  "•  22  '  25  '  * 
Marduk-musallim  17  "  24  " 
Marduk-lpi-iS  21  »♦ 
Marduk-iki-Sa-an-ni.  11  »  12  "  '*  14  '^^ 
Marduk-irba  14  '"^ 
Marduk-Sum-ibni  18  '" 
Marduk-Sum-ufur  28  " 
Marduk-Sarra-ni  16  * ' 
Mu-5l-zib-BU  20  '  »» 

Na-ba-ai  27  * 
Naba-balat-iddin  20  » 
Nabft-bala^su-ikbi  29  " 
Naba-bala^su-[ikbi]  15  ' " 
Nabft-bani-aha  24  ' 
Naba-ga-mil  26  " 
Nabft-iddin  20  »  24  i"  "  28  >' 
Nabtl-zir-iddin  11  '^  '•  16  »'  22  '« 
Nabii-zir-iki-Sa  25  " 
Naba-zir-SutlSur  14  •' 
NabG-afel-bul-lut  14  '" 


Nabft-a^i-iddiu  IJ  '  "  '»  Li  '"  14  "  17  " 
18  »  20  '  "  '"  22  ■'  23  ♦  26  »  27  "  28  »  • 
29  '  31  ''  ' 

Nabfl-ahi-iddin-na  21  '  ♦  "  " 

NabO-alji-irba  11  '- 

Nabtt-i^lr  15  »  »  ' 

Nabfl-ukin- 15  " 

Nabd-ukin-apla  25  • 

NabCl-lit-su  "'*  '' 

Nabii-mu-u-da  11  '* 

Naba-musallim  11  '" 

Naba-mu-Si-ni-ud-da  12  '«  26  »  "  '» 

Nabii-na'id  11  •"•  12  •'••'  13  '»  14  •'°  15  '» 
16  18  17  5  15  18  i-i  19  11  20  '"  21  "•■' 
22  "  23  '*  24  '»  25  '"  26  "  27  "  28  '• 
29'"  30  "  31 '' 

Naba-na^fir  28  '♦ 

Naba-is-kip  18  » 

Naba-apal-iddin  11  '  »'"  12  ♦  '•  13  «• 

Naba-u?ur  26  '« 

Nab-ik-bi  29" 

Naba-rimu-lip-tum  23  • 

Naba-ri-man-ni  25  '  • 

Naba-iriS  25  "  30  " 

Naba-u-Su-da-kata  22  * 

Naba-Sum-iddin  14  •''  15  »  16"'  »• 

Naba-Svim-uSur  16  »  27  »» 

Naba-iSip-u§ur  17  ^-^ 

Naba-itti-apli  28  ♦ 

JSTu-ub-ta-a  26  ♦ 

Na-din  23  "  26'  '^^ 

Na-di-nu  15  '  ^ 

ITa-din-Marduk  24  ' 

Na-din-Si-bar  15  " 

Ni-lat-tum  29  "  '■"'" 

Ni-mi-ku  13  >' 

Nu-u-pu  11  '* 


xu 


The  Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art. 


Na^ii-^at-  ai  14  ^^ 

Nttr-i-a  30  « 

Nlrgal-uballi-it  13  M4  » 

Nirgal-iddin  14  » 

Nirgal-itlr  26  '  "' 

Nirgal-musallim  IC  '* 

Nirgal-na'id  11  '* 

Nirgal-ujur  29  * 

Nar-Sin  11  »M7  •■'  *  18  «  24  »  28  « ' 

Na-fii-i-Nabft-apla  20  '• 

Na-iSi-ir-na-a  20  ' 

Su-ha-ai  14  "' 
Sin-ga-ga-nim-mi  10  '* 
Si-nu-nu  16  • 
Sin-tab-ui  11  " 
Su-lj;arai  27  •' 

Pu-na-ni-tum  18  * 

9al-a  29" 

9il-la-a  15  '  20''30*  '* 

9ir-diS-bit  27  " 

9a-ti-lu-tum  28  » 
Kur-bau  11  '* 
Kur-ban-Marduk  14  >» 
Kur-ban-ni-Marduk  13  ' 


Bi-dal-Samad  22  " 
Harmu-u-a  10  * 
Rammanu-a^l-uballi(  11  " 
Raraman-u-ml-i  12  '" 
Raminanu-6um-iddin  24  '" 
Rammanu-&uin-ufur  27  " 
Ri-mut  13  »  •  'M4  '•  '•  25  »  '» 

Ri-mut-BU  27  • 
Ri-6ar-tura  29  »  '  '*  "• 

6u-Bu-ba  23* 

dakan-ium  25 ' 

Su-la-a  12  •  14  """  20  *  '»  21  '  23  »  • 

da-am-ma-'  27  " 
Sa^abti-Au  16  '" 
Sa-an-na-a  -J^  ''«'•'•  »• 

da-na-6i- 11  ' 

§apik-zir  15  •  •  10  '♦ 
da-aA-Bll-fi  28  * 

Tab-lu-^u  29  »  •• 
Tab-ni-i  17  " ' 

Tab-ni-i-a  11  "  18  '  25  »*  •• 
Ta-ki«-Gu-la  22* 


. -ufur-bllu-u  12* 

.-i^-ka  11  " 

■ -dum-ukiu-na  21  ' 


INDEX  OF  PROPER  NAMES  ACCORDING  TO  GENEALOGY. 

Thtffintt  column  gitvs  the  name  of  the  permn,  the  second  that  ofhl»  father,  and  the  third  his  family  name.  Only 
thoaenames  are  catalogued  here,  of  which  the  geneaUtgy  is  ghvn ,  orwhich  Aeiiv  «)»«c  special  attribute  tii  distinguish 
them  from  other  names  of  the  same  form.  For  all  other  names  see  preceding  inilejc. 


Iddin-Marduk    apal  su  sa  Iki-da-apla 


apal  Nftr-Sin 


Iddin-Marduk  " 

Iddin-na-^u-nun- 
(i-i6-Marduk  " 

Scribe  of  the  \%th  Tablet. 

*Iddin-Naba- " 

Iddin-NabQ 
Iddin-NabQ 

Iddin-na-Naba  " 

1-a-na-^ir  " 

Il^i-fia-apla  " 

Irba-Marduk  " 

.Scribe  of  the  14  Hi  Tablet. 

Ardi-ia  " 

Arad-Bil 

Arad-Marduk  " 

Hcribe  of  the  21  s(  and 
25  th  Tablets. 

Arad-Marduk  " 

Itti-Marduk-bala^u  " 

Scribe  of  the  22nd  Tablet. 

Itti-Marduk-bala^u  " 
Itti-Marduk-bala{u  " 


BU-dum-iS-ku-un 
Nabfl-nasir 


amilu 


^ipu 


[Bani-ia] 

•«    Du-ub-bi 

I^l-Sa-apla 

••    Bil-ibni 

9al-a 

,, 

Ib-na-a 

«.    Da-bi-bi 

Mu-8al-li-mu 

A-pak-kal-ia 

..    t-gi-bi 

Mar-duk-ikl-Sa-an-ni 

"    lllatu-u 

Itti- 

«    aiiiliu  Sakanu 

Du-um-mulf 

.«    Arad-Bil 

Bit-ti-ia 

(amilu  t.MASBil 
1  amilu  fiangu  Bil 

*'  Marduk-ifi-ir 
"  Arad-Bil 

"  Nabft-afel-iddin 
"  Naba-abi-iddin 


amilu  fia-    tabti    -Su 

A-ba-ba-ti-la 
1-gi-bi 


17 
19 
25 

t  s 

»28 

18  > 
24' 

lit 

23 

la 

28 

'U 

20 

1 1 

31 

8 

29 

■ii 

21 

16 

25 

8 

26 

IK 

14 

it 

29 

■i* 

13 

14 

21 

1  s 

25 

IT 

22 

s 

•>•> 

1» 

22  "    26  « 

28  ■*    29  "  " 

1116  1 »  31 1 
6   8 


Itti-Nabft-bala^u      " 

"  Marduk-ban-zir 

"    BU-i-tlr 

31  '" 

Scribe  of  the  31  st  Tablet. 

tItti-Nabtl-bala$u    *' 

"  Marduk-iddin 

••    Bil-i-^i-ru 

29  " 

Scribe  of  the  29  th  Tablet. 

Bil-uballi-it 

"  Na-di-nu 

15  " 

Scribe  of  the  10  <A  Tablet. 

BU-iddin 

"  Ba-ni-ia 

J  Nirgal-uf ur 
1^  Ri-Sar-tum 

29* 

29  '  '•"• 

Bil-iddin 

"  Nirgal-uballi-i$ 

"    amilu  ga 

l;j  s  «  1  u   11 
14' 

BU-di-bir 

,< 

"    Nab-ik-bi 

29  " 

*  Possibly  the  same  as  Iddln-na-NabQ.  the  third  name  from  this, 
t  Evidently  the  same  scribe  as  the  preceding. 


XIV 


The  Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art. 


Bil-afel-i^l-fia       apal-BU 

sa  Bil-iu-nu 

apal 

19 

1 

Bil-fearran                  " 

"  Mu-sal-lim-mu 

••    ainflu  iangu  Nana 

17 

Bil-itir 

"  NabCt-dum-u|^ur 

"    Ramman-ium-u{^ur 

27 

t 

Bil-kafir 

Scribe  uf  the  12th  Tablet. 

••  Bil-ri-man-ni 

"    Ba-bu-tu 

li 

* 

Bil-apal-iddin 

"  l-mid-su 

19 

Bil-apal-iddin 

Scribe  of  the  -il  tb  Tablet . 

"  Dab-bi-Sa(?) 

"    Nabd-lit-su 

-:i 

I* 

Bil-apal-iddin            " 

•«  NabG-[iddin?J 

'•    Bamman-Aum-iddin 

24 

* 

BU-apal-iddin            " 

"  Naba-abi-irba 

"    Kur-ban 

11 

1  -i 

Bil-ri-man-^ii             " 

"  Marduk-musallim 

24 

k 

Bll-fiu-nu 

"  Bll-i^l-fta 

"    *n»""  iangu  Nana 

.•50 

» 

Bil- 

"  Nabfi-fium-uyur 

"    Bani-[ia] 

15 

II 

Ba-ni-ia                      " 

ScrilM'  of  the  16  Ih  TalUel. 

••  NabQ-6um-iddin 

"    «">""  iangu  Ninip 

Iti 

a  I* 

Bani-um-ma-gu         " 

Scrllie  uf  the  it?  Ih  Tablet. 

<•  Bll-a^l-iddin-na 

"    9ir-dii-bit 

27 

ii 

Da!nu-zir-ibni            " 

"  Ab-la-a 

*•    Ipi-li-ilu 

30 

* 

Zir-fttu 

"  Nabd-zir-  iddin 

22 

14 

Hu-nu   -ti-tiS-&amafi- 
bala^u 

•' Ai 

••    Bll-l-^l-ru 

11 

1 

Ki-di-nu 

"  Marduk-l^i-ir 

"    Ramman-u-ml-1 

12 

la 

Kal-ba-a 

fla-ba-ta 
"  |NabQ-abl-iddin 

««    1-gi-bi 

21 
31 

1  « 
>    4   « 

Iia-a-ba-ft; 

"  Zi-ri-ia 

*•    Na-ba-ai 

27 

1 

La-di-pi 

"  Di-na-a 

M 

t 

Lu-uf-a-na-nftri- 

Marduk               " 

"  Ki-rib-ti 

••    1-gi-bi 

21 

1 

Marduk-iddin           " 

"  Marduk-ipl-lS 

"   Zi^ai 

21 

9 

Marduk-zir-ibni       " 

"  Su-la-a 

"    Nafir-feat-al 

14 

X 

Marduk-itl-ir 

"  Hi-mut 

"    Arad-Nirgal 

25 

4 

Marduk-musallim    " 

Scrilie  of  the  l~i  th  Tablet 

"  Nabtl-&ip-ufur 

**    A^a-ba-ni 

17 

4 

Marduk-iki-Sa-an-ni" 

"  Bani-i-a 

••    lllatu-u 

11 

*Marduk-ikI-Sa-an-ni  • 

"  Ba-ni-ia 

♦•    -ufur-bllu-u 

12" 

14 

Marduk-iarra-ni       " 

••  Bll-iki-fia 

"    da-tabti-$u 

16 

1 

Nabft-balaJ-iddin     " 

"  ^il-Ia-a 

•*    Na-iSl-ir-na-a 

20' 

Nabfl-balat-su-ikbi  *• 

"  Bani-ia 

"   Bi-&ar-tum 

29 

> 

Nab(i-balat-su-[ikbi]" 

"  Zir-ia 

««    ainllu  band 

15' 

0 

Nabd-ban-a^a          " 

"  Iki-§a-apla 

•'    Na-din-Marduk 

24  = 

Nabft-ga-mil              " 

"  Nabft-mu-6i-ni-ud-da 

"    l-sag-gil-ai                          26  ' 
famUyname  Is  broken  off  at  tbebef 

T 

•Very  likely  identical 

with  tlie  preceding,   The 

winning. 

hence  the  latter  Is  uncertain. 


Genealogical  Index  of  Proper  Names. 


XV 


NabA-iddin         apalsu 

s'a  Bil-idanin                    av 

,ai  amlln  ni-fur-gi-na 

28  la 

NabG-iddin 

"  Zir-ukin                           • 

•    arailu  Sangu  Quia 

24  '• 

Nabft-iddin                " 

"  Mu-6i-zib-BIl 

•    Na-Si-i-Nabd-apla 

20  • 

Nabft-zir-iddin 
amllu  mar  Sipri 
daini 

16  «» 

Nabd-zir-iddin          *' 

••  Nabfl-musalliiii             * 

*    Sin-tab-ni 

11  '« 

Nabft-zir-iki-Sa 

"  Sakan-dum 

25" 

Nabfl-zir-Sutifiur      " 

•'  Nabd-fium-iddin            * 

•    Ka-di-di 

14  i  I 

Nabft-afei-bul-lut      " 

*'  Marduk-irba                   ' 

'    Su-^a-ai 

14  "» 

Nabft-afel-iddin 

"  Su-la-a                              • 

'    i-gi-bi 

12   T     a     lA 

Scribe  of  the  20  th  Tablet. 

14"  20'  * 
'"21  "23* 

NabCl-a^t-iddin-na  " 

<t  Nab£l-a^i-iddin-na 

21  » 

Nab<i-i(ir 

i.  9il-la-a                            • 

'   It-ik-kal-a 

15  ■'  "  ' 

Nabft-ukin-zir           " 

..  Bil-uballi-i^ 

•    amilu  parfii-ki 

15  ' ' 

Nabft-mu-§i-ni- 
ud-[da] 

..  Bil-zir-ibni 

'    t-sag-gil-ai 

2fi  ' " 

Nabft-mu-Si-ni-ud-da* ' 

.'  Bil-Su-nu 

'    Bil-pat-ta-nu 

12  '" 

Nabfl-is-kip                " 

'•  Marduk-Sum-ibni          ' 

'    Idauin-Nabd 

18" 

Nabii-apal-iddin 

"  Ba-la-Ju                           ' 

•   Sa-na-Si- 

11  • 

Nabft-apal-iddin 

••  Da-bi-ia                          * 

•    Su-^a^ai 

13'" 

Scribe  of  the  13  th  Tablet. 

Nabft-u-fur-Su 

•«  Ba-la-tu 

'    Mi-fir-ai 

26'" 

Nabd-rimu-lip-tum  '• 

•  »  Su-zu-bu  »inilu  rab.ka- 
a-ri  §a  Sarri 

23  > 

Nabft-iriS 

••  9il-la-a                             ' 

•    Man-di-di 

30  '  ' » 

Scribe  of  them  th  Tablet.  . 

Nabtl-iriS 

"  Tab-ni-l-a                       ' 

•    A^a-ba-ni 

25  '» 

Na-din  amilu  IR. 

SaL.TAB(?).SA 

23  «> 

Scribe  of  the  23  rd  Tablet. 

Na-din                         '* 

Scribe  of  the  28  th  Tablet. 

••  Nlrgal-itir 

•    Ba-bu-tu 

26  »  ■"' 

Nflr-i-a 

"  BU-ikl-Sa 

'    a'nilu  Sangu  Nana 

30'" 

Nixgal-na'id              " 

•«  Nabd-zir-iddin               ' 

•    -it-ka 

11  '* 

8u-ka-ai                      " 

•'  Kal-ba-a                           ' 

'•'    Babu-u-tu 

27" 

Bi-dal-Samad             " 

"  ttir-Marduk 

•    tpi-iS-ilu 

22" 

Bammanu-ahi-uballitS' 

"  Dan-a                              ' 

•    Ndr-Sin 

11  " 

Ki-mut                         " 

'•  Ai 

"    Arad-Nirgal 

22  " 

Bi-mut 

•'  NabCl-ukin-apla 

25' 

Ri-mut                         " 

"  Ni-mi-ku                           ' 

'    Man-di-di 

13" 

Ri-mut                         " 

•'  Kur-ban-ni-Marduk     ' 

•    Ipi-ifi-ilu 

13  '"  14  >• 

Bi-mut-Btt 

"  BU-Mardvik 

•    Sa-am-ma-' 

27" 

XVI 


The  Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art. 


Su-la-a                   apal 

Ku  sa  Iki-ia-apla 

apal  Iddin-Bil 

23« 

Sapik-zir 

'    "  Nabd-ium-iddin 

'•    Na-din-fii-bar 

16  «  • 

Sapik-zir                    ' 

"    "  Ifirgal-musallim 

••    Sin-ga-garnim-mi 

16  '• 

dara$-Bil-fi 

•    "  Nabd-itti-apU 

"    Hu-pu-u 

2g» 

/-Tab-ni-l         -j 
•  Tab-ni-i-a      J 

•     '•  Naba-afel-iddin 

[  amilu  iangu  «>"  Zari^^u 
\amilu§angu>lu  damai 

17  11 

18  » 

'^Tabni-i-a 

amllii  dangu  ilu 
Zari^u 

25" 

Tab-ni-1-a                   ' 

•    "  Nabd-mu-u-da 

"    Nu-u-pu 

11'^ 

Scribe  of  the  11  th  TabU-l. 

-dum-ukin        • 

•    ••  Iddin- 

'    ••  Id-da-a 

21  ' 
2S  « 

Thefollomiig  Jive  naiiuti  are  those  of  (lie  ivomen  uhone  genealogy  is  given  in  ihme  texts.    Theij 
are  appetided  here,  because  the  persons  can  thus  be  more  readily  found  in  other  texts. 

Atntu  marat  Hu  sa  Marduk-&um-uf  ur  28* 

Bani-a-tu-i-sag-ila  **     "  Nabft-Sum-iddin  16  '  '• 

Nabft-u-fiu-da-%:ata "     **  Ta-ki6-Gu-la  «p«i  »ni1lii  ijipu  22* 

Nu-ub-ta-a  **     "  Nabft-mu-Sl-ni-ud-da "    t-sag-gil-ai  26* 

Ni-lat-tum  "     "  Arad-Bil  .        I^bi-[Marduk?J  28  • 


A  GLOSSARY 

OP  THE  ASSYRIAN  WORDS  OCCURRING  IN  THE  TEXTS. 


u  and.  Very  frctjncnt. 

ainiiu  iB-bani  carpenter.  21  '" 

abalu  to  biing.  i(-bal  29  ■  * 

adi  together  uith.  a-di  14  '  16  '  18  »  2S  " 
a-di-i  29"  a-di  Hi  Mn/«.  22'  29" 
a-di  Hi  Sa  untilthat.  26  »♦ 

idu  hand,  side,  i-di  26  "• 

afeu  j>or/ion,  half,  a-fei  13*  15* 

a-^a-a-ta-Su-nu  25  •'        it-ti  a-^a-miH 
uith  one  another.  28  • 

Itiru  to  receive.  iHi-ru  17  *  i-ti-ni  22  '» 
24  '     i-tir-tum  28  '     i-^i-ru  pay.   28  ' 

akalu  to  eat,  c&nstime.  ik-kal  13  '  15  ' 

ul  not.  13»28»29«'  >« 

ilu  god.  Determinative.  Fre(iuent. 

alft  c«7i/.  13  *  31  "  ina  all  u  siri  in  citif 
and  country.  15  * 

ili  ahont.  31  *  For  other  instances  see 
under  adi,  viltu,  ana,  and  ina. 

llu  to  go  up,  make  out.  il-li  13  '  il-la-'  12  '* 
i-'-i-li  12  •  i-ti-li  25  ♦  '  ul-ti-la  31  » 

aladu  to  bring  foHh,  tu-li-da  11  ' 

alaku  to  go,  il-lak  (in  the  phrase  nadutti 
illak)  possesses.  13  "  il-la-ku  ibid.  14* 

alpu  cattle,  al-pa  20  ' 

I-lat  to  be  additional.  13  "  30  » 

uitu  from.  15  '  21  ♦  ul-tu  ili  below.  13  ' 
ultu  ili  mi-^ir-tu  in  behalf  of.   18  • 

umft  dmj.  11  »»  12  "'13  '»  14  "  15  '«  16  " 
17«  16  igu  1910  20  »  >«  21^1  22  '•  23'» 
24  >«  25  »•  26  "  27  «»  28  »»  29  "  30  »• 
31  i» 

amilu  wian.  Determinative.  Frequent. 

amiliitu  slave,  a-ml-lut-tum  29  " 

ummu  mothci-.  26  '•  ummi-8u  29  "" 

amilu  l.HLAh  priest.  21  >' 

a.an  Added  to  numerals. 

&nu  not  to  be,  ia-a-nu  13  '" 


ana  a-na  to.  11  »  12  "  "  15  '  20  '  21  "  28  » 
29 'SI  «  •  for.  11'  12"  «  '•  16'  17^ 
21  »  25  "  29  '  '•  "  wi  regards.  13  * 
to  the  value  of  14  »•«»'«"'  ^  a-na  Hi 
against.  13  •   on  account.  25  *  ' 

ina  in,  at,  for,  after.  12  '  13  *  •  14  »  15  «  »  • 
17  *  18  •'  19  *  21 "  22  •  24  »  26  '^^  27  ♦  ^ 
30  •  ina  ili  against,  to  be  received  of 
13  '  14  *  '  15  »  ♦  16  '  17  •■•  20  »  22  »  23  ♦ 
24  »  ♦  26  '  27  '  "  ina  ili-Su  ^7  "  27  ' 
ina  ili-iu-nu  26  *  ina  lib-bi  there- 
upon. 26  "  ina  kata  from,  from  the 
hands  of  12  ♦  18  »  19  »  28  *  29  ♦  30 " 

an-u8-ti-nu  25  • 

u.an.tim  receipt.  12  "  >»  14  '  28  »  31  » 

aplu  son.    construct:  apal.  Very  freijuent. 

ipidu  to  receive,  acquire,  i-pu-fiu  29  *  31  ' 
i-pu-Su  12  *  ip-pu-uS  15  *  ip-pu-ufi- 
Su  13  *     i-pu-uS-Sa  28  '     i-pi«-Sa  31  ' 

i^u  viood.  Also  determinative.  Isu  i^^u  14  1 » 

arad  iarrfttu  An  official.  11  "» 

irsitu  land.  Determ.  following  Babilu  (not 
transliterated  in  this  book).  Also  31  '  \ 

amilu  IB.SAIi.TAB(?).Sa  23  " 

iSu  to  be.  i-Sa  23  »«     i-Su-[u]  26  >♦ 

aSabu  to  sit  down,  u-iib-u  placed.  26  '  a- 
fia-bi  presetice.  26  "  * 

afiiatu  icife.  addati-Su  16  *  ail$at-su  18  * 
aSfiat-du  26  *  sercant.  ad-Sat-ti  16  " 
aS-Sat-su-nu  16  » 

idtin  one.   ifiti-in  31 ' 

iar[a-tu(?)]  /.  26  " 

itti  with,  it-ti  13  •  28  »    it-ti-i  15  * 

itilfu  to  take  away,  i-ti-ik  13  »  » 

utru  profit,  u-tur  13  '  15  * 

balafu  to  live,  bal-tu-u  28  ' 
amilu  band  carpenter.  15  ' ' 
ba«ii  to  he.  ba-Si-1  18  »» 


XVlll 


The  Metropolitan  Musevmi  of  Art. 


bltu  liouse.  36  'o  blt-ia  26  >•  blt-8u-nu26  " 

gabbu  all.   gab-bi  26  »»  gab-bu-tu  16* 

gabrft  rival,  another,  duplicate,  gab-ri  12" 

gallu  male  nUirc.  gal-la  25  ' '  gal-la  gal-la 
14  «•     amilu  gal-la  17  ' 

gallatu  female  slave,  gal-lat-su  22  "  amliu 
gal-Iat-su  11  ' 

emilu  oiM  is  to  hv  road  amtiii  band  car- 
penter. 

gamru  entire,  all.  gam-ru-tu  12  *  gam- 
ru-tum  fnUncKs.    11  ' 

gimru  vegetables,  gim-ru  30  " 

gind  offering,  naa'ijice.  gi-nu-u  28  *  amilu 
ni-fur-gi-na  28  ''■''♦  (set*  note.) 

gu-ri-nu  threshed  (?)  14  '* 

giirru  A  incasiirn  for  dry  and  liquid  sul)- 
stanccs.  gur  25  '" 

giSimmaru  dalcpalni.   28  ' 

DU  Sec  manzazu. 

dibbu  comj)laint,  lawsuit,   dib-bi  14  ' 

da^-^u-tum     additional,    further   demand. 

18  '»    . 

ainllu  dalDu  judge.  23  »  dalni  16  '» 

dannu  large,  karpatu  dan-nu-tu  jar,  ves- 
sel.  14  '  dan-nu  14  ' 

duppu  contract  tablet.  28  ^  31  ' 

dupsaru  scribe,  dupsar  12  '*  dup-sar 
23"  amilu  dupsar  11  "  12  '"  13  »" 
14  "♦  15  •*  16  '*  17  "  20  "  21  '"  22  " 
24  •=>  25  "  26  •■"  27  "*  28  '»  29  "  30  >» 
31  '• 

zir-mu-u  An  iron  instniracnt.  14  " 
zittn  portion,  share.  15* 

bubullu  intirest.  19  '  24  •  ^ubulla-Su  22  ' 
ina  feubvilli  at  interest.  18  «  24  » 

^tldu  pleasure,  ^u-ud  11  ''  21  " 

harranu  business.    13  ♦  '"  ''^    14  »  "    15  '  ' 

tu  shekel.  11  '  13  '  '  14  «  «  '  lo  m  n  ig  n 
18  '  19  '  20  1  22  •  *  24  *  25  '"»•"'  26 ' 
'  »  ■  27  «  28  '  30  '  »  31  ♦  » 

t&bu  good.  14'  >» 


kl  if.  ki-i  27  »  iehen.  29" 

Kl.IiU  28  ' 

kalalu  to  be  complete,  i-kat-lul  29  '  * 

kam  Placed  after  numerals  to  form  ordi- 
nals. Very  frequent. 

k&mu  instead  of.  ku-um  11  * 

ka-pak-i  85  ■ 

kasd  cup.  tf)  karea-a-ta  14  " 

kuBBu  chair.  ';"  kusai  14  '• 

kaspu  silver,  moneg.  Very  frequent.  ka«pi- 
ia  26  >■  kaspa-a  11  '  13  "  kaspa.a.an 
12  •  22  * 

karu  A  mea.sure.  kartu-u  25  "  ka-ri-iu-nu 
26» 

karpatu  dish,  vessel.   Used  as  detcrm.    14  ■ 

14  not.   18«»23'*  27* 

libbu  heart.  lib-bi-«u  11  '  21  ■  ina  lib>bi 
thereupon.  26  * 

libittu  brieA-.  28  * 

lUfd  to  take,   il-tl-^u-u  31  ' 


ma^aru  to  receive,  ma-^ir  28  *  ma-^i-ir 
30  •  ma^-^ir  18  •  ultu  ill  mi-^ir-tu  in 
behalf  of  18  ♦ 

mukinnu  tcitncss.  amilu  mu-kia-nu  11  '• 
12  »•  13  >»  14  "  15  «•  16  "  17  •  21  »« 
22  >'  23  •  24  •  (?)  25  "•  26  •»  28  '•  29  •• 
30  «•  31  •  wnllu  mu-kin  27  • 

mala  Sec  the  following. 

mimma  tehatcver.  13  * '  mimma  ma-la  as 
much  as.    13  *  15  * 

mana  A  piece  of  money,  ma-na  11 '  12  *  • 
14  "  15  '  10  »  19  »  22  '  »  23  •  '»  24  » 
26  '  '  27  '  ma-ni-i  24  •  26  •  27  • 

manft  to  count,  ma-nu-u  14  *  • 

mandatu  hire,  wages,   man-da-at-tum  16  * 

manzazu  presence,  witness.  17  '  18  '  19  * 

maru  son.  mar  Frequent.  mar-6u  Fre- 
quent, amilu  mar  Sipri  messenger.  16** 

maru-u-tu  adoption,  21  * 

mar.bandtu  An  official.  11  '* 

mami  hatchet,  mar-ri  14  " 


Glossary  of  Assyrian  Words. 


XIX 


martu  daughter,    marat-su    16  "    22  "   2C  ' 

28  '  29  •  '•• 


mu-fia^-bi-nu  A  bronze  \itensil.  14  "* 

madkaQU  security,  pledge,  mad-ka-nu  11  * 
16>«22«26'>  " 

ma§aru  to  leave  behind.    u-ma5-ii-ru   29  '  '^ 

matu  land,  mat  Pctorni.  Fre(Hient. 

nadanu  to  giro,  id-din  11  '  29  "  id-di-in 
21  »  id-di-nu  20  «  29  »  iddin-nu  17  " 
id-i-nu  27  »  i-nam-din  20  »  22  *  23  ' 
24  «  i-nam-di-nu  16  '  29  '"  na-din  24  ' 
na-din-na-mu  12  ' '  li-nad-nu  21 '  na- 
da-nu  18  ^  ina-ad-din  27  *  u-da-nu- 
tu  17  '  it-ta-din  29  '^o  31  ' 

nam^aratu  A  vessel,  nam-^a-ra-ta  14  " 

namfatu  A  vessel,  nam-sa-a-ta  14  '^ 

ni-8i-su  Indding.  (?)  29  >» 

nafaru  to  protect,  amilu  ni-fur-gi-na  28  '* 
'*  (see  note.) 

nadd  to  rai.te.  To  bring :  nardi  11  ' '  na-Sa- 
a-tum  29  '^'^  To  take:  i-na-Su  15  '  16  " 
To  lend :  na-Sa-a-ta  22  ' ' 

na-aS-fei-ip-ti  An  iron  utensil.  14  '* 

naSilttu  command,  commission,  bidding,  na- 
aS-ut-tum  12  '  14  *  na-[afi-ut-tuj  29''^ 
na-afi-ut-ti  31  '"  30  ' 

nifi-ru  16  ' 

amilu  SA  13  ♦ 

Bil^a  An  official.  11  » 

suliipu  date,  (ka-lum-ma)  14  ' 

sipparu  copper.   14  '"  "  20  ' 

panu  face.    To  be  received  from  :    la-pa-ni 


■>K   I    ■!    i    lU    It 


To  be  at  the 


~o  ' '  ina  pan  z'o 
^,      disposal  of:  14  '• 

pakiranu  An  official.  11  '-' 

parzillu  iron,  14  '"  " 

pa-ri-rl-is  female  sheep.  (?)  20  * 

pi-da-an-na  equal.  29  * 

ainilu  pa-fii-ki  15  '" 

patu  certificate,    pu-ut   11  »  24  »  29  '^    pu- 
u-tu  15  * 


^abatu  to  take,   fa-bit  25  "  ^ab-ta  20  " 

fibtu  j>08«f««t(>H.   fib-tum  15  ' 

ai^ru  small,  fi-^i-ri  21  * 

firu  plain,  field,  coiintrji.  25'"  ina  all  u 
flri  in  city  and  country.  15  * 

ka  A  measure.  14  * 

kibtt  to  speak,  say.  a]b:-bi  11  °  i^-bu-fiu  21  • 

iiiniiu  klpu  guardian,  keeper.  22  '"  23  " 

kakkadu  head,  capital.  15  " 

katCl  hand,  in&kiktk from,  from  the  hands  of. 
12  *  18  ■'  19  '*  28  "  2i)  ♦  30  «  ta-^ata-mi6 
See  note  to  14  '  * 

raba  /(>  became  great,  increase,  i-rab-bi  17  • 
24  '  26  »  27  '  u-rab-bu-Su  21  ' 

amilu  rab.ka-a-ri  An  official  23  *  (see  note.) 

ri^tu  remaindir.  ri-ih-tum  31  '  ri-i^-ti 
29"  ri-hi-it  23'»" 

riksu  contract,  ri-ik-su  12  " 

riku  empty,  ri-ku-tu  14  ' 

da  of,  which.  "N'ery  tre(iuent. 

Su  16' 

6a  he,  it.  fiu-u  12  ">  21 '» 

fii.bar  grain.  25  "» 

Sadd  east.   21  '" 

Sidatum  present,  fii-da-tum  29  " 

dafaru  to  write,  fia-ta-ru  document.  31  '  fia- 
^a-ra  in  uriting.  29  • ' 

Sakanu  to  2)1  ace,  set.  fiak-na-tum  11  ^  amilu 
Sakanu  gorernor.   29  ^* 

Sikaru  wine.  14  ' 

ialamu  to  be  perfect,  fia-ta-lam-mu  14  " 
to  be  jMtid,  hence,  to  receive:  i-§al-li-mu 

22  " 

Sumu  name,  fiu-mu  15  '    §um-§u  12  ' 

SImu  price.  11  M2  *  '"  28  «  29  " 

6anii  /()  change.  6a-a-na-a-na  neilhir.  13  " 
§i-na  doul)le.   18  ' 

fiangu  priest.  a™'l«  fiangu  16  *  "  17  '"  " 
18  "  24  »■•'  25  «="  "*  30  '  « 

dipru  message.  «uiilu  mar  dipri  messenger'. 
16  »« 


XX 


The  Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art. 


*araku  to  present,   i-fiar-rar-ku  29  " 

Sarru  king.    23*"  Sar  11  »'  12  "■'  13 '» 
14  "  16  '»  IG  '»  17  »  »•  18  >»  19  »»  20  " 

21  "  22  »'  23  '«  24  '•  25  "•  2G  "♦  27  '« 

28  »'  29"' 30  "  31  " 

Sattu  year.    11  ""  12  "'  13  «»  14  "•  15  •  '« 
16  7  ID  17  6  i»  ig  n  19  10  20  '♦  21  ■•" 

22  "  23  "  24  '»  25  »»  26  "  27  '«  28  '• 

29  "  30  '•  31  '-^   iatta   icery  year.  31  ♦ 
ianati  tivo  years.  19  * 


ta  Placed  after  numerals.  14  »  "  ' «  "  19  » 
ta-l^ata-mii  i>ee  note  to  14  "  ta.a.aQ 
31' 

tibnu  straic.  14  '* 

ti-lit-tum  amount.  {?)  18  * 

taru  to  turn,  return,  u-tlr  29  »•  ti-ra  26  "' 
ti-ra-iu  26  •» 


NO.  11. 

FRONT. 

,  ^  ji^l  .'I  ^111  ^  I  t5-  ^4- 1-^  -El  -TM  C-eT  r^ 
3^  ET-  V  :e!I  V  ^  -f I  ^  ^I-  I  --f  ^T  <> 
JUT  Tini  I?  I "^11  ^? :^^! <!l   lEUs^T 

Jf  -^T   IL  ET  ^!   H<^T  I?   !=<2!S  V  21  s^^E 

J?  -^t  T  -f  elll  El  V  --f  S.:  lU  V    ^^W 

.1^  y  .^  ^  >  (=||y|!=  s!4iI4^  ^^-  ^!  ^T  ^  Efe 
,„^  <IEJ  E^I  -^    ^!    t^  ^I     E^  x^  ^\ 

..^►^lETI'T^  I "^11 1? -^  If  I  V  T  "^^M .t^  El! 
.If  I  £^  B<  I  --f  4i4f  ►S^  I«<  -V  If  I 
„V  is^f  If  If  I'^f  --f  <«  I--f  <^I«=E 
«If  I  V  I  ^«=M  9^^  -^  If  I  Hill  EIAI  -I 
,j«;=TpM^^-^   If  I    T    I   ^s=M   -IIA 

«If     I  --f  <«  t  R^     ^    ^jn      I    !^  :s:  M  If 


The  Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art. 


V  ^^If  <M  ^^  y  ^T  W  «^ 


18 


19 


ao 


21 


Tablet  of  a  light  brown  color,  l^ix2%  Inches.  There  are  numerous  breaks  upon  It,  and  many  of 
the  signs  of  the  first  five  lines  of  the  reverse  an>  llUed  with  u  hard  Uluty  uutMUmce,  reuUerlug  the 
decipherment  dilBcult  The  tour  edges  are  not  written  upon. 


Transliteration. 

1  Nabtl-apal-iddin    apal-&u  ia  Ba-la-(u 

apal  da-nardi- 

2  inal  bu-ud  lib-bi-6u  Qu-la-ri-nin-ni 

3  amilu  gal-lat-Bu  6a  Hu-nu-ti-tid-damai- 

bala(u 

4  apal-£u  &a  Ai  apal  BlM-(l-ru  ku-um 

6 1/3  (u  kaspi  ma&-ka-nu  &ak-na-tum 

6  u  mar-fiu  da  ak-bi  tu-li-di 

7  a-na  1/3  ma-na  kaspoA    Sim    gam-ru- 

tum 

8  a-na  [MardukJ-il^l-fia-an-ni  apal-ftu  &a 

Bani-i-a 

9  apal  tllatu-u  iddin  pu-ut  si-^i-i 

10  pa-ki-ra-nu  arad-6arrQ-tu  mar-banA-tu 

11  Nabd-apal-iddin  naril. 

12  amilu  mu-kin-nu  BU-apal-iddin  apal-6u 

5a  Nabft-a^l-irba 

13  apal  Kur(P)-ban  Rammanu-a^l-uballi( 

apal-§u 

14  da  Dan-a  apal  Nflr-Sin  Nlrgal-na'id 

15  apal-du  da  NabO-zir-iddin  apal  . . .  -it-ka 

16  Nabtl-zir-iddin      apal-du     §a      NabCl- 


Tramlation. 

1  Nubilapaliddin,   the  sou  of  Balatu,  the 

son  uf  Sbauasbe 

2  in  the  pleasure  of  his  heart,  Oularininni 
;j  his  slave,  —  whom  Iiiuiutiiis|ishauia.sh- 

balatu, 

4  the  son  of  Ai,  the  sou  uf  Beleteru,  In- 

stea«l  of 

5  one  third  shekel  of  money  hh  Kccurity 

had  set,  — 

Band  her  child,   wiiom   h.- Miid  •.In- will 
give  birth  to, 

7  for  one  third   niana  of  money,   the  full 

price, 

8  to  Mardukikishanni,  the  son  of  Bania, 

9  the  .son  of  Kllatu,  gave.    The  certificate 

of  the  .sihi, 

10  the  pakiranu,  the  arad-sharrutu  (and) 

the  nuir-banntu  officials, 

11  Nabuapaliddin  will  bring. 

12  Witnesses:  Belapaliddiu,  the  .son  of  >"a- 

biiahirba, 

1.3  the  son  of  Kurban;  Itammaniialuuballit, 
the  son 

14  of  Dana,  the  son  of  Nursin;  Nergalna'id, 

15  the  son  of  Nabuziriddin,  the  son  of  . . . 

itka; 

16  Nabuziriddin,  the  son  of  Nabumusaliim, 


Second  Tear  of  Ndbonidus. 


musallim 

17  apal  Sin-tab-ni  amilu  dupsar  Tab-ni-i-a 

18  apal-du  Sa  Nabft-mu-u-da  apal  Nu-u-pu 

19  Babilu  ara^  Adaru  dmu  5  kam 

20  dattu  S.  kam  Nabft-na'id 
21 6ar      '  Babili 


17  the  son  of  Sintahni.    Scril»»»:   Tahnea, 

18  the  son  of  Na))»iniu(la,  the  son  of  Niipn. 

19  Babylon,  in   the  month  Adiir,  on  the 

5  th  day, 
■^0  in  the  2  nd  year  of  Nabuna'id, 
21  King  of  Babylon. 


NOTES. 

2.  ina  ^u-ud  lib-bi-Su.  A  lepra]  phrase.  See  Peiser's  explanation  in  Z.  A.  Ill,  70. 
—  3.  The  space  in  tlie  line  indicates  an  erasure  on  the  tablet  by  the  scribe.  He 
probably,  by  mistake,  also  erased  the  perpendicular  wedge  that  usually  introduces  a 
person's  name.  —  5.  §ak-na-tum.  This  form  occurs  also  Strass.  Nabn.  253,  10.  — 
6.  A  very  condensed  expression.  It  is  peculiar  to  find  the  form  ak-bi  used  here  in- 
stead of  ik-bi.  We  would  expect  the  third  person;  the  sense  evidently  rccjuires  it:  I 
have  therefore  translated  it  thus.  The  same  form  occurs  in  Strass.  Nabn.  1113,  18  and 
720,  10.  I  would  class  it  as  one  of  those  mistakes  so  common  in  collo<iuial  language. 
Or  else,  it  might  be  taken  as  an  instance  where  the  dictator  of  the  tablet  has  fallen 
out  of  his  role,  and  has  used  the  first  instead  of  the  third  person.  —  8.  Undoubtedly 
jVIarduk,  as  the  first  signs  show.  Before  the  name  Bani-i-ia,  the  determinative  for 
person  is  again  omitted.  —  10.  pa-ki-ra-nu  is  also  used  to  denote  the  plaintiff,  or 
the  one  that  objects  to  the  business  transaction.  But  here  it  refers  to  an  official.  I 
would  take  arad-iarrdtu  and  mar-banfltu  as  officials  in  charge  of  the  slave  trade. 
Oppert,  however,  strenuously  objects  to  this  rendering  ( Z.  A.  Ill,  178  )•  —  12.  The 
sign  kin,  as  will  be  seen,  is  written  in  a  great  variety  of  ways.  I  have  endeavored  in 
the  texts  to  give  them  as  near  the  actual  writing  as  my  type  permits.  —  13.  The 
sign  for  kur  is  strange ;  the  horizontal  wedge  ought  to  have  been  omitted.  Perhaps 
it  is  a  mistake  on  the  part  of  the  scribe.  Kvu-ban  means  "gift"  and  may  well  be  com- 
pared with  the  Hebrew  j2l1p   Neh.  x:35;xiii:31.    Compare  also  jS'^P  Lev.  vii:38, 

the  Arabic  ,-.iJ-5   "sacrifice,  offering",  and  the  Greek    Kopfiav  Mark  vii:ll.    — 
20.  Therefore  the  tablet  is  dated  in  the  year  553  B,  C. 


Hiinutitishshamashhalatu  owed  Nabuapaliddin  \  shekel  of  money.  He 
evidently  could  not  pay.  So  he  gave  his  slave  Gularininni,  who  was 
pregnant,  to  the  latter  as  security.  Now  Nabuapaliddin  had  no  use  for 
the  slave,  or  he  saw  that  he  could  make  a  good  bargain.  Therefore,  be- 
coming tired  of  waiting,  he  resolves  to  sell  the  slave  and  her  unborn 
child.  He  sells  at  an  immense  profit,  —  (or  he  is  required  to  return  the 
difference  in  the  two  amounts  to  the  owner  of  the  slave).  The  certificate 
of  the  officials,  mentioned  in  lines  9  and  10,  was  obtained  in  order  that 
there  might  be  no  dispute  about  the  ownership  of  the  slaves. 


The  Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art. 


NO.  12. 

FRONT. 

,  ^  -+  15-^  -n  -TT<T  i5-fe  ^  <T-m  E^  I 
,7  T --f  «^I ET V -+ s^  in  V  i:ETs?:tEl} 
3^  T IIIIT  t^  <  tTTTTt  n  ^T  UL  ET  ^T  H<  ^T 

»rr  I  V  T  v^i;t  V  -^t  <ti  e^  \\-  jt 

, ^I  S  ^T  ti^E    V    T  ^tTtT  J^  T«<  "^ 

JM  V  T  JT  -ET  T?  TJ  T  :?:;  fl^A  :rj 
» }}<  ^I T^  -+  III  ET  ^T  -«  V  T  ^tjtT  Xt  T«<  "^ 
,„  Vi  ^!  t<gs^  ^-  -+  t5-^  -eT  -!T<T  i5-^  S^  <  e:^  I 

BACK. 

.all  m  «=Trrf«=  4f<T  +<T^  IeIT  V  :^-+t5-^  -ET4f<T 

iJ^^S:  <  E^I 

„  V  -R^T  T  -f  ^^^  ET  V  -f  s^  ^►^TT  -eT  A- 
„V    T  ^tlcT  J^  T«<  >^   JT  tTTTTc 


Second   Year  of  Nahonldus. 


}  mm  -^  Tf  I  V  T  -f  <^T  -m  ss 

I?  T  -+  ^4f  '=1111'=  I-  ^M  ^  «ail  T  "E=Tn  ^1  iv  I 
V    T  ^n  -TH  «  S:    T^    T  I^T  Xir-  m 

,v  ^^^  <M    Si^  ^   *T  «TT  s^  -^  IT  ^S 

.  I  ►MtltT  4i4f  Ifc   s=^   v^^:p^<IEj 


18 


ao 


This  beautiful  tablet  Is  of  a  dark  yellow  color,  with  large  spots  of  brick  red  upon  It.  Size  l  % 
X  SJ^  Inches.  The  writing  on  it  Is  very  clear,  though  some  of  the  signs,  especially  in  the  first, 
second,  and  tenth  lines,  are  run  very  closely  together.  The  upper  edge  and  the  edges  of  the  two 
sides  are  not  written  upon.  The  corners  are  slightly  damaged,  yet  the  signs  can  be  clearly  distin- 
guished. 


Tranallieraiion.' 

1  Gu-la-ri-nin-ni  u  mar-Su 

2  kB,  Marduk-iki-Sa-an-ni  apal-§u  §a  Ba- 

ni-ia 

3  apal -U8ur-bilu-u  a-na  2/3  ma-na 

kaspi 

4  a-na  iim  gam-ru-tu   ina    kata    Nabii- 

apal-iddin 

5  apal-§u  §a  ltir-§a-na-nim  i-pu-fiu 

6  u  u.an.tim  a-ha  §um-Su  i-'-i-ii 

7  ina  na-a§-ut-tum  ka,  NabG-ahi-iddin 

8  apal-su  §a  Su-la-a  apal  1-gi-bi 

9  kaspa.a.an  2/3  ma-na  . . .  SaNabCi-ahi- 

iddin 

10  a-na  Sim  Gu-la-ri-nin-ni  u  mar-§u 

11  a-na  Nabii-apal-iddin  na-diii-na-mu 

12  u.an.tim  gab-ri  u.an.tim 

13  . . .  -lu-u  ri-ik-su  sa  Gu-la-ri-nin-ni  u 

mar-Su 

14  da  dupsar  Marduk-iki-6a-an-ni  il-la-' 

15  ka  NabQ-ahl-iddin  §u-u 

16  amilu  mu-kin-nu  NabCl-mu-Si-ni-ud-da 

apal-Su  6a 


Translation. 
1  Giilarininni  and  her  son, 
;?  whom  MardukikLshanni,  the  son  of  Ba- 
nia, 

3  the   son    of iisurbelii,     for  two 

thirds  inana  of  money, 

4  at  the  full  price,   from  the  hands  of  Na^ 

biiapaliddm, 

5  the    son   of    Eter-shananini,    received  ; 
G  and  a  receipt  in  his   name  he  setup, 

7  at  the  bidding  of  Nabilahiddin, 

8  the  son  of  Shula,  the  son  of  Egibi. 

9  In  money  two  thirds  mana  .  .  .  ,  which 

Nabuahiddin 

10  for  the  price  of  Giilarininni  and  her  son 

11  unto  Nabiuipaliddin  gave. 

12  The  duplicate  receipt,  the  ....  receipt 

13  (and)  the  contract  tablet  about  Gulari- 

ninni  and  her  son, 

14  which  the  scribe  (for)  Mardukikishanni 

had  .set  up, 

15  the  possession  of  Nabilahiddin  it  is. 

16  \\  itnesises  :   Ts'abumusheniudda,  the  son 

of 


The  Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art. 


17  Bil-Su-nu  apal  Bll-pat-ta-nu 

18  Ki-di-nu  apal-du  da  Marduk>i(l-ir 

19  apal  Ramm^n-u-mi-i    u    "milu  dupsar 

Bil-ka^ir  apal-du 

20  da  BU-ri-man-ni  apal  Ba*bu-tu 

21  Babilu  ara^  Adam  iimu  22  kam 
iattu  2  kam 

22  Nabfl-na'id  iar        BabilL 


17  I^lshunu,  the  son  of  Kelpattanii; 

18  Kidinu,  the  son  of  Marduket£r, 

19  the  8on  of  Itamra&nume  ;  and  the  itcrib* 

Belkasir,  the  Kon 

20  of  Belrinwnni,  the  son  of  Babutu. 

21  Babylon,  in  the  month  Adar,  on  the 

22nd  day,  in  the  3nd  year  of 

22  Nabiina'id,  King  of  Btibylon. 


NOTES. 

3.  In  the bi-eak  here  the  last  sign  would  indicate  that  either  Nersral  or  Marduk 
has  been  broken  off.  —  5.  Literally,  "he  made  ",  then,  "he  received".  —  6.  As  it 
was  no  concern  of  lVlardtikiki-<hanni  who  would  ultimately  pomeHM  biH  slavex,  the 
receipt  wan  naturally  made  out  in  the  name  of  the  present  pun*haj<er,   Nabfuipaliddin. 

—  7.  na<a&-ut-tum,  a^*TaIlqviKtreud.s  the  word,  taking  it  from  the  root  naAft.  Peiser.  on 
the  other  hand,  reads  na-aS-pir-tum,  taking  it  from  the  root  iap&ru,  "to»end".  Either  ii* 
admissible.   The  fonner  reading  is  chosen  here  because,  to  my  judgment,  it  is  t  lie  better. 

—  8,  If  the  break  contains  ina'lli,  the  following  ia  must  be  read  ^i  (the  appearance  of 
the  sign  on  the  tablet  would  admit  either)  and  the  whole  would  \w  ina  mu^^i.  This 
would  not  materially  alter  the  sense,  we  would  only  have  to  supply  "it"  at  the  end  of 
line  11.  The  passage  would  then  read :  "Two  thirds  of  a  mana  to  be  recet\-ed  from  N.  for 
the  price  of  G.  and  her  son  :  to  \.  he  gave  it."  Notice  the  form  na-din-na-mu  from  na^ 
danu.  —  12.  The  first  u.an.tim  and  gabri  must  be  read  together,  and  the  second  u.a]i. 
tim.  with  the  illegible  adjective  in  line  13.  —  13. 14.  Thbi  contract  evidently  gave  age, 
parentage  and  hi8t«)ry  of  the  slaves,  together  with  the  certificate  of  the  ofllcials  appointed 
by  the  government  to  take  charge  of  the  slave  trade.  This  naturally  went  to  the  pur- 
chaser, so  that  he  could  have,  so  to  speak,  a  legal  document  showing  his  right  to  the 
slaves.  —  14.  A  very  unusual  form  for  Marduk,  the  usual  form  is  given  in  lines  2  and 
18.  —  15.  &U-U  refers  to  the  contract  tablet  described  in  13. 14.  —  21.  Hence  in  the 
year  553  B.  C. 


This  tablet  treats  of  a  sale  through  commission.  Nabnahidin,  one  of 
the  Egibi  family,  has  instructed  Mardukikishani,  his  agent  probably,  to 
purchase  for  him  the  slave  Gulariniuni  and  her  boy  from  Nabuapal- 
iddin.  The  last  named  receives  the  full  price  from  Mardukikishani,  who 
in  turn  receives  the  purchase  money  from  the  original  purchaser.  We 
therefore  appropriately  find  in  line  12  mention  made  of  a  duplicate  re- 
ceipt, as  each  of  the  purchasers  wished  to  be  safe  from  all  insinuations 
that  the  money  had  not  been  properly  paid.  Finally,  Nabuahiddin,  into 
whose  possession  the  two  slaves  had  now  passed,  becomes  the  possessor 
also  of  all  the  tablets  bearing  upon  the  sale. 


Fourth  Year  of  Nabonidus. 


NO.  1 3. 

FRONT. 

,IL  M  m  ^T  V  T  fl<!  -f^A  V,  I  V 
J  V  H<   Si:   ^-f  <::^^I    T?     T  ^  <«  -f 

,!if  ^  T^  T?  ^T  ^TT  1^-S^  El  -ET 
.-   -til     <E  -V    U  Xy  R^<T  J!    !^  4». 

,-H^  s^f  <^^  m  ^\t\  ^  I  m  H<^I 
.V  II  -^T  H  -^I  <t^^  ^  -I-  -T<!^ 
.  V  El^iT  -I-  Jf  <!^  I?  ^T  <::?ItT  A  t<^M  t^'A 

BACK. 

.EfeT^  n  9^  H<^I  V  ^TT  V  !'^^tM^I«<^ 
,,^  -^  IIEI  -7^  I  4f<T  -HA  !U  V  I  Sf:  T-  ::^:=^ 
„  T^   T  «  ^Itl  ^Ttl  I  ^I  "=^I   !^  I  V 
,J  wT  tJ^I  -^  If      T  ^T  -f  -< 

,.£s  «an    T  ^^M  Tf  -^  !U   V  T  EH  t^  W 

„!?  T  :eti  ?<?^  I?  i^    V  \t^}  <m   'm.}  m 


The  Metropolitan  Mitseiim  of  Art. 


19 


T    ►MtTtT    m 


Small  tablet  of  a  brown  color,  l^  x2  inches.  The  slgtis  are  verj-  plain  with  two  exceptions,  one 
In  the  5th  and  the  other  In  the  17  th  line.  It  lit  but  Kllghtly  daniujfed  at  the  two  lower  corners  of 
the  obverse. 


Tramlitrration. 

1  l/S  (u  kaapi  6a  Rimut  apal-4u  ia 

2  Kur-ban-ni-9Carduk  apal  tpi-l6-ilu 

8  ina  Hi  Bil-iddin  apal-6u  6a  Nirgal- 
uballi-it 

4  apal  uinilu  sa  a<ia  ^arr4ni  mimma  ma- 
la 

6  ina  aid  Kas-sun  ?  >  ip-pu-u6-fiu  a-bi 

6  ina  u-tur  Bil-iddin  it-ti  Bi-mut 

7  ik-kal  uMu  Hi  1  ^u  kaspi 

8  fia-a-na-a-na  ul  i-ti-i^ 

9  da  i-ti-ilF  a-na  Ui  il-Il 

10  Bil-iddin  na-ad^ut'ti  ia  barr&nl 

11  il-lak  mixnma  i-lat  ia,  Bil-iddin 

12  ia-a^nu  kaspu  ia  t>arr&ni  ia  NabCt-abt- 

iddin 

13  amilu  mu-kin-nu   Hi-mut  apal-iu  Sa  Ni- 

mi-ku 

14  apal  Man-di-di  Arad^Bll  apal-du  ia 

15  Du-um-muk  apal  Arad-Bll 

16  amilu  dupaar  Nabi^pal-iddin  apal-du 

ia  Da-bi-la 

17  apal  Su-ba-al         Babilu  ara^  l^airitu 

18  ftmu  22  kam  iattu  4  kam  Nab^na'id 


19  iar 


BabiU 


Tranntalion. 

1  X  Rhfikel  of  money  which  Rimut,  the 

«on  of 

2  Kurlmnimarduk,   the  son  of   Kpe^hihi, 

3  1;*  to  reeeire  from  Keliddhi,  the  son  of 

XerjralulialHt, 

4  the  HOH  of  the  ...     In    rejjard  to  bu«i- 

upss,  a.s  much  an  he 

5  in  the  city  Ka-^^ur  ffaitis,  a  share 

C  in  the  profit  I'eliddfn  witli  Uimut 
Twill  consume.  B«>low  1  r<hekel  of  money 

8  neither  Mhall  take  away. 

9  Who  docM  take  ( anything >  away,  again!«t 

(him)  there  ix  a  debt. 

10  Beliddin  the  command  of  the  huxinesx 

11  pos.se»!*es.    Whatever  is  additional,   be- 

longing to  Beliddin 

12  it  IH  not.   The  capital  of  the  businet^H  be- 

longs  to  Nabiiahlddin. 

13  Witnesses:   Uimut,  the  son  of  Ximeku, 

14  the  son  of  Mandidi ,'  Atadbel,  the  son  of 

15  rikmnnik,  the  son  of  Aradbel. 

16  !*<Tibe :    Nahtiapaliddin,  the  son  of  Da- 

b!a, 

17  the  son  of  Sutaa.  Babylon,  in  the  month 

Ta-shrit, 

18  on  the  22  nd  day,  In  the  4  th  year  of  TSw 

biina'id, 

19  King  of  Babylon. 


JPbvrth  Year  of  Kahonfdus. 


NOTES. 

2,  Kur-ban-ni-Marduk  occurs  also  in  the  Hcvt  tablet  (14, 19\  but  tlio  syllable  ni  is 
tnjiittcd.  l^idoubtcdly  the  Name  iiiiin  is  mentioned  in  both  eases.  For  Kur-ban  see  11, 
13.  Ipidilu  Cf.thc  Hebrew  SxHtTJ?-  —  •'»•  Bejjinning  of  line  5  is  blurred;  therefore 
the  reading  of  the  name  alG  Kassur  can  be  but  tentative.  —  6.  u-tur  I  would  connect 
with  atru  "more,  excwding"  ;  and  ataiu  "to  V)e  above".  Compare  also  the  Hebrew 
"iril^  "that  which  remains  over",  then,  "profit".  The  word  occurs  also  in  15,  5.  —  7. 
LiteniMy  "will  eat",  the  meanin'r  is  "will  share",  ultu  ill,  a  phrase  not  common  in  the 
vontract  tablets.  Cf.  ifitu  ill  Tel.  Gram.  ?  81A.  It  has  the  sense  here,  undoubtedly,  of 
"from,  below".  —  8.  Sa-a-na-a-na  "the  other",  then  in  a  wider  sense,  "either",  i- 
ti-ik,  from  itiku  "to  remove",  but  here  spelled  with  the  i  and  not  the  e  vowel.  —  9. 
il-li  "to  be  as  a  burden  or  debt",  from  11(1  "to  go  up".    'I  he  word  occurs  in  this  form  in 

Strass.  Nbk.  300, 10.  After  ill  we  must  sup)  ly  6u,vvhich  is  often  omitted.    10.  na-a§- 

ut-ti:  see  note  to  12,  7.  —  11.  il-lak  froju  alaku.  'I  he  phrase  naSa*^a  alaku  (Tallq.  p.  108) 
mean<»  "to  go  at  the  bidding  of ,  to  perform  a  business  transaction  for" ;  here,  I  take  it, 
the  sense  requires  another  translation,  i-lat  i  Phcrnecian  XlSj?  Schroder,  Tha-n.  Gram. 
§  120)  is  an  adverbial  form  from  HT'J?-  '"^^'^  2-  A.  HI,  71. 175;  Tallq.  p.  40.  ia-a-nvi,  com- 
pare the  Hebrew  pX  .  —  15.  The  large  space  in  the  middle  of  the  line  indicates  an  era- 
sure l)y  the  scribe  on  the  tablet.  The  traces  of  the  word  he  had  written  would  give  us  for 
the  first  sign  amilu,  as  in  line  16.  The  scribe  forgot,  at  first,  to  record  the  last  witnesses 
family  name  in  his  anxiety  to  have  enough  room  for  his  own  name.  —  17.  The  sign  for 
ha  is  doubtful.  —  18.  Dated  iu  the  year  551  B.  C. 


Beliddin  and  Rimut  have  gone  into  partnership  with  a  certain  sum  of 
money  advanced  by  Nabualiiddin.  Beliddin  is  to  manage  the  business, 
"while  Rimut  is  to  do  the  work  in  a  certain  city.  Beforehand  Beliddin  is 
to  pay  ^  shekel  to  Rimut,  perhaps  in  order  to  induce  him  to  enter  the 
partnership,  or  to  pay  off  a  debt.  Both  are  to  share  in  the  profit  eqttally, 
otherwise  there  would  be  a  statement  to  the  contrary.  This  division  is 
to  take  place  only  when  the  profit  amounts  to  more  than  one  shekel. 
If  either  anticipates  and  takes  his  share  beforehand,  he  is  in  debt  by 
this  amoimt  to  his  partner.  On  account  of  the  smallnees  of  the  amounts 
involved,  it  may  be  stip])Osed  that  the  contract  is  one  between  two 
humble  mechanics,  perhaps  weavers  or  gardeners. 


10  The  Metropolitan  Mvseum  of  Art. 

NO.  1 4. 

FRONT. 

,  <^<   t^{   ^}  ^  <m   4f<T  tci  ^^ET    !^  ^t} 
,  IT  Es:5T   -W^  }}  If  s^^I   <fm   TT  5?JT  -M^^ 

,-    ^^ti    <    Es:f  .^     V     ^    A.  fiP^     !J  -^T 

.  IL  m  EEJ  m  s^-  T  M    H<  ^T   ET  v^  «=!!!.= 
.  <?  t?  I  :::^TtT  5tt  El  V  -<t:<TET  T  -4  <t?-T  -^ 

„^l:::<M-I-     -^IhsT^i-T^     VS^^^^I-^ 

i^  -^i  n  M  ff<  ^T 

„  <I  Sf  <<!  ^I  t<ItR  t%I  T45. 1?  SpJf  I?-^I  IDH  ?f<^T 

..  -+  -f     -J^^    -^  fcIII«=     -f  +     '^  t-^  #<T  -7^ 

„]}    ^I    II   M    V    S^^I    tl   t5^^    U    I«< 


•)  This  Sign  1  would  rather  read  u  Instead  ol  nun  or  «a.  The  horlzootal  wedge  is  made  so  deep 
that  It  may  accidentally  have  covered  the  second  horizontal  wedge  o(  the  sign  u. 


SixtJi    Year  of  Nahonidus. 


11 


15 


.,T  HH  Tf  BT^T  ^Ttt  !<«  H<^T  ^T-  -eT  JT-  -eT 

„  TU  V  T  £T  -ET  n  TM :?:;  4f  A  :=!  iVtl  T  4f <T  -WA 
..T;  I  V  T  V & -+  <::^^t  T?  \^ <« -f  -  <T- 
T  -!I<T  -f<TA 

„  T  --f  «^I  ^TT  in  :eTT  H  <  n  T^  I  ^«^M  -^^  "=1  ^M 
.  lU  V  T  -^::ItT  -^  -^  IH  ^]^}  ^1:^1  ^M I  --f  I  ^^  ^ 
«IH  T  I  ^I -El  IMM  *r  :?=  in^ 

«<£<yn  i-E^i2i-+<:r^''I  in  v  i--f  i:ei  vil 

«I?  I  --f  ^  V  <   V  J^t^f  <IE!    2S?  :^^ 


» ^i « in  -I 


t:tE 


I  -PTtM  Eli 


37 


?-<> 


►f-T 


MIEI 


Tablet  of  a  light  brown  color,  2  x  S'a  inches.  Tlie  upper  and  lower  aides  are  well-curved,  while 
the  ilsf ht  and  the  left  sides  are  perfectly  Hat.  The  signs  are  very  plain  and  clearly  made.  There 
Is  a  small  space  after  line  27  dividing  the  writing,  otherwise  the  latter  goes  around  tiie  tablet 
continuously.  The  hides  contain  no  writing. 


Tran  Alteration. 

1  40  karpatu  dan-nu-tu  ri-^u-tu  a-di 

2  2  ta  nam-f  a-arta   u   2  ta  nam-ha-ra-ta 

3  ina,  dib-bi  10  dan-nu  da  iikari  tabi  »- 

na 
413  [\j:a]  3  (u  3  ^a  1  (u  kaspi  ma-nu-u 


Translation. 

1  40  empty  vessels  together  with 

2  2 vessels;  2  sacrifi<!ial  vessels 

3  (pending)  in  suit;    10  vessels  of  good 

wine  to  the  value  of 

4  3^  ka  for  3  shekels,  —  3  ka  (equivalent 

to)  1  shekel  to  be  counted;  — 


12 


^  The  Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art. 


6  40  madihu(Pj  suKipi  fia  ina  ill  Nirgal- 
iddin 

6  da  a-na  1/3  tu  kaspi  ma-nu-u 

7  18  ta  kaspi  u.an.tim  ia  ina  ili  Bll-iddin 

8  apal-du  &&  Nirgal-uballi-i(  &a  na^ai-ut- 

tum 
O  &a  harr&ni  il-la-ku 

10  sipporu  mu-da^-bi-nu  ia-ta-lam-ma  Br 

na  2  tu  kaspi 
11 11  ta  8ippa.u  ka-sa-a-ta  a-na  1  (u  kaapi 

12 -u-bar  mar-ri    parziU    na-a&-bi- 

ip-ti 

13  parzili  zir-mu-u  parzili  tibnu  gu-ri-nu 

14  a-na  2  tu  4  ta  isu  kusai 

16  u  3  ta  iiiu  isu  (abu(P)  a-na  2  {u 

16  1,  tu  2  ta  If  ata-miS  kaspi   gal-la  gal-la 

17  1/2  1  ma-na  10  {u  kaspi   6a  ^arrani  ia 

Nabfi-a^l-iddin 

18  apal-Su  &&  8u-la-a  apal  t-gi-bi  u  Bi- 

mut 

19  apal-6u  fia  Kur-ban-Marduk  apal  Ipl- 

Ifi-ilu  ina  pani  Hi-mut 

20  amiiu  mu-kin-nu  Kabfi-a^l-bul-lu^  apal- 

du  da 

21  Marduk-irba  apal  hlu-fea-ai    Nabfl-zir- 

dutidur 

22  apal-fiu  da  Nabd-diun-iddin  apal  Ka-di- 

di  Marduk-zir-ibni 

23  apal-§u  da  &u-la-a  apal  Naf  ir-^at-ai 

24  u  amilu  dupsar  Irba-Marduk  apal-du  ka. 

Marduk-ikl-da-[an-ni] 

25  apal  tllatu-u         Babilu  ara^  Aim 

26  amu  23  kam  Sattu  6  kain  NabA-na'id 

27  dar  Babili 


5  40  moasures  of  dates,  which  are  to  b«* 
retvivcd  from  Xer{,'aliddiu, 

G  U'hicb  to  the  value  of  y^  i»bekel  of  mon- 
ey are  to  be  counted  ; 

7  18  HhekeU  of  money,  a  receipt  for  which 

Is  to  be  received  from  Beliddin, 

8  the  son  of  Xergaluballit,  who  the  com- 

mand 
0  of  the  buxiness  possesses. 

10  A  pprfe<!t  copper to  the  value  of 

3  xhekeU  of  money  ; 

1111  copper  cup8(f )  to  the  value  of  1  sheli- 
el  of  money ; 

12 an  iron  hatchet ;  an  iron ; 

13  an  iron ;  thre8hed(?)  straw 

14  to  the  value  of  2  shekels ;  4  chairs ; 

15  and  3  good  logs  of  wood(?^  to  the  value 

of  2  shekels ; 

16  1  and  %  shekels  of  money  :  slaves ; 

17  1)4  mana,   10  shekels  of  money  in  the 

business  of  Nabuahiddin, 

18  the  son  of  Sbulik,  the  son  of  Egibi.  and 

of  Kimut, 

19  the  son  of  Kurbanmarduk,  the  son  of 

Epeshilu,  are  at  the  disposal  of  Kimut. 

20  Witnesses:  NabualiibuUut,  the  son  i>f 

21  .Mardukirba,  the  son  of    Siiha;  Nab&zir- 

shutesbur, 

22  the  son  of  Nabushumiddin,  the  son  of 

Kadidi ;  >lardukziribni, 

23  the  son  of  Shu  la,  the  son  of  Nasirhat- 

24  and  the  scribe  Irbamurduk,  the  son  of 

Mardukikl^lianni, 

25  the  son  of  £llutu.  Babylon,  in  the  month 

Aim, 

26  on  the  23  rd  day,  in  the  6  th  year  of  Na- 

buna'id, 

27  King  of  Babylon. 


SlxtJi  Year  of  Nahonidiis.  13 

NOTES. 

1.  ri^utu  must  be  connected  with  p"*"!  "empty."  —  2.  namf  ata  is  mentioned  also 
(nam-sa-tum)  in  Strass.,  Mabn.  258,  12  ;  Peiser,  liab.  Ver.  CXLIII,  11 ;  Haupt,  B.  A.  I, 
176.  nam^arata.  Cf .  Lotze,  TP  1-5.  This  word  occurs  again  in  Stress.,  Nabn,  258,  13;  787, 
13;  Cyr.  183,  18;  also  in  Peiser,  Bab.  Ver.  CXLVIII,  14.  —  3.  dib-bi  means  "suit, 
complaint  before  a  cwirt."  For  other  instances  see  Tallq.  p.  63.  6ikari  ^abi.  Consult  Pei- 
ser, Bab.  Ver.  p.  249.  For  the  different  varieties  of  wine  see  Zehnpfund's  excellent  notes 
in  B.  A.  I,  p.  524,  note  ***,  and  his  addition  to  this  note  on  pp.  634,  635.  —  4.  This  line 
seems  to  say  that  the  wine  shall  be  rated  at  a  reduced  price.  —  5.  The  sign  for  mail^u 
is  uncertain.  Cf.  Peiser,  K.  A.  p.  101;  Bab.  Ver.  p.  243.  —  9.  It  seems  as  if  the  sign 
for  ^u  had  been  written  on  the  tablet  instead  of  ^arranu  at  first.  —  10.  mu-fia^-^i-nu. 
Tallqvist  on  page  132  suggests  "a  utensil  of  bronze."  6ar-ta-lam-mu  must  be  taken  from 
the  root  &al4mu  "to  be  perfect."  —  11.  kaaata  may  be  the  Hebrew  TQ*Q  —  12.  mar- 
ri  "hatchet."  Tallqvist  on  page  97  fully  explains  the  derivation  and  meaning  of  the 
word.  Zehnpfund,  however,  in  B.  A.  1,  p.  535  and  636  objects  to  this  translation.  He 
treats  marru  as  a  synonym  of  ungu  "ring."  nadhipti  is  some  utensil  made  of  iron.  The 
tvord  occurs  also  in  Strass.,  Nabn.  571,15;  784,2;  926,4;  Peiser,  Bab.  Ver.,  p.  305. 
13.  zir-mu-u  also  in  Strass.,  Nabn.  258,  36.    tibnu  occurs  also,  but  spelled  out,  in 

Strass.,  Nabn.  231,  3.  gu-ri-nu  may  be  connected  with  the  Hebrew  ?*^J|  "threshing 
floor."  Hence  tibnu  gurinu  may  mean  "threshed  straw."  —  16.  That  kata-mi&  is 
added  to  numerals  in  order  to  denote  fractions,  the  denominator  of  which  is  one  num- 
ber higher  than  the  given  number,  and  that  the  latter  forms  the  numerator,  is  coAclu- 
sively  shown  in  the  "Sitzungsbericht  d.  Kgl.  Ak.  d.  VVissensch.  zu  Berlin,"  1889,  p.  828, 
Anm.  1.  —  17.  galla  galla  is  the  old  way  of  writing  the  plural.  —  19.  Ku.-ban- 
liarduk  is  the  same  person  that  is  mentioned  in  13,  2,  which  see.  ina  pan  is  an  idiomatic 
expression,  meaning  "  to  be  received  from,"  (cf.  25,  1.2.5.10.12.);  but  ina  pani, 
here,  means  "  to  be  at  the  disposal  of,  to  be  the  property  of."  —  20.  bul-lu(.  The 
usual  form  is  bul-li^ ;  the  w  of  bul  has  evidently  attracted  the  vowel  in  luj.  —  25. 
JUlatu-u  (also  11,  9)  is  also  given  in  Strass.,  "  Worterver.  z.  d.  Inschrift.  z.  Liverpool ," 
p.  20.  —  2C.  Undoubtedly  na'id,  as  the  first  three  wedges  show.  Tablet  dated  in  the 
year  540  B.  C. 

Nabuahiddin,  and  Rimut  had  formed  a  partnership.  They  deter- 
mined to  give  up  their  joint  business.  Nabuahiddin,  therefore,  makes 
out  a  list  of  the  articles  and  the  money  that  are  to  fall  to  the  share  of 
Rimut.  There  we  find  copper,  iron,  and  wooden  utensils  mentioned, 
and  their  respective  values  given  ;  spices,  wine,  and  money  added,  and 
all  handed  over  to  Rimut.  Even  Beliddin,  their  business  manager,  is 
compelled  to  pay  back  to  Rimut  the  money  he  loaned  from  the  latter. 

It  is  to  be  regretted  that  we  know  so  little  about  the  various  vessels 
and  implements  mentioned  here.  The  value  attached  to  each,  however, 
tshows  them  to  be  small  and  common  objects. 


14 


The  Metropolitan  Museum  of  Arf. 


NO.  15. 

FSOKT. 

J?  y  ETA!  J  <!}  sfH?  n-^T  ^TT  ^^T  eT -eT 

,  >-  ciTTTt  e:^ -  If  -T<T  H<  -eT  I  MtTtT  -V  eT4iT  -T<  ee 
J  ts^I  ^^  4  <I5  Sf ;  -  -^  -T  -^T  IT  IIIEI  W<  '7 

,  I  ^t]t\  -V  5?:^!  ^>IT  Tf  -^T  JT  -^  /  t:^E  EE  -^T I 

» 8-  «=TTTT«=  ^^T  5r:TtT  ^A  }]<  ^T  T  "^II  -ll^l  Ull 
.TH  V  T"=^tTtT-^  J^  IMS 

„^  -v-  lETI  "7^  T  ^^V\  ^  ^TT  a 
„T"7^<-  EElUf  £^  B<T  T  "^«=T'=T  s^-^T 


m 


.1?  I  V  T  "Mil  4^  eTAT  n  ^  E^-  y  ^TeT 
«^  m  T  --f  -^  ^  ETAT  TU  V  T  -^T  5T«=T  -^ 
« V  ^5:^;  <IET    2s^  -^TT  ^T  <  T  «^  ►^  ;^  ^^e 


Sixth   Year  of  Nabonidus. 


15 


Tablet  of  a  light  brown  color,  l?i  x  i%  Inches.  The  tablet  Is  gradually  crumbling  off,  and  It  Is 
fortunate  that  this  copy  could  be  made  befoi-e  the  signs  have  been  effaced.  The  right  hand  lowt^r 
comer  of  the  obverse  Is  broken  off.  and  thus  the  last  signs  of  lines  8,  9.  lO,  and  ii  are  destroyed. 
The  writing  is  plain  and  well  defined.  The  left  side  Is  without  Inscription.  There  is  also  a  large 
space  between  lines  vi  and  la 


TramUUrHtUm. 

11/3  ma-na  kaspi   6a  Sapik-zir  apal-6u 
6a  Nabii-dum-iddin 

2  apal    Na-din-6i-bar    ina  ili  NabCl-i^ir 

apal-6u  6a  [^il-la-a 

3  apal  It^ik-kal-'la  a-na  ^arrani  mimma 

ma-la 

4  ina  all  u  91-ri  ina  111  ip-pu-ud 

5  ina  u-tur  a-hu  zittu  NabG-lJir  it-ti-i 

6  Sapik-zir  Ik-kal  ina  6atti  2  ^u  kaspi 

7  Nabft-itir  ultu  ^arrani  a-na  fiu-mu  f ib- 

tum  i-na-6u 

8  pu-u-tu  kakkadi  kaspi  Bll- 

9  apal-6u  6a  Nabii-6um-UBur  apal  Bani- 

[ia] 

lOnmilu  mu-kin-nu  Nab<i-balat-8u-[ik-bi 
apal-6u  6a] 

11  Zir-ia  apal  amiln  bantl  NabA-ukin-[zir] 

12  apal-6u  6a  BU-uballi-i^  apal  i^mil"  par6i- 

ki 
ISamilu   dupsar    Bil-uballi-it  apal-6u  6a 
BTa-di-nu 

14  Babilu  arah   Samna  Qmu  11  kam 
6attu  6  kam 

15  Nabvl-na'id  6ar        Babili 


Translation. 

1  }i  mana  of  money,  which  Shapikzir,  Ihc 

son  of  Xabftshumiddin, 

2  the  son  of  Nadinshebar,   is  to  receiv<» 

from  NabAeter,  the  son  of  Silla, 

3  the  son  of  Itikkala,   for  the  business,  so 

much 

4  in  city  and  country  from  (him)  he  will 

acquire. 

5  In  the  profit  a  part  —  the  joint  posses- 

sion —  Nabuetcr  with 

6  Shapikzir    will   consume;    during    tlie 

year  2  shekels  of  money 

7  Nabueter  from  the  business  upon  (hisi 

name,  as  possession,  will  take. 

8  The  receipt  for  the  princijjal   of  moiu-y 

Bel 

9  the  son  of  Nabushumusur,  the  son  of 

Bania,  (has  received). 

10  Witnesses :  Nabubalatsuikbi,  the  son  of 

11  Ziria,  the  son  of  the  carpenter ;  Nab6- 

kinzir, 

12  the  son  of  Beluballit,  the  son  of  the  . . . 

man; 

13  the  scribe  Beluballit,   the  son  of  Xadbi. 

14  Babylon,   in  the  month  Marcheshwan, 

on  the  11  th  day,   in  the  6  th  year  of 

15  Nabfina'td,  King  of  Babylon. 


NOTES. 

3.  The  vertical  wedge  at  the  beginning  of  the  sign  mimma  is  left  out.  —  4. 
ip-pu-u6,  "has  acquired."  ipi6u  has  this  meaning  also  in  Deluge '1  ablets,  1.277.  ina 
all  u  slri.  This  phrase  occurs  also  in  Peiser,  Bab.  Ver.  XXXVIII,  8,  See  also  Tallqvist, 
p.  120.  —  5.  u-tur,  see  note  to  !),  6.  Also  Strass.,  Cyr.  148,  7;  Nbk.  51,  4,  —  7.  i-na^ 
6u.   Similar  forms  octur  in  Stntss.,   Xabn.   63,  12  ;  746, 14 ;  Nbk.  235,9,    sibtum  fiom 


16  The  Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art. 

f  abatu  "to  take.  "The  term  is  generally  used  to  denote  poHsessions  of  clothing  and  other 
articles,  but  here  also  of  money.  See  Tallqvist,  p.  120  and  121.  —  8.  pu-u-tu.  This 
adds  another  form  to  Peiser's  much  discussed  pu$  and  Tallqvist's  bud.  Abel  and  U'inck- 
ler,  on  p.  816  of  their  Keilschrifttexte,  give  a  word  pfttu  "Zugang",  which  may  be  con- 
nected with  the  above.  —  9.  Xabd-Aum-ufur.  Another  sign  had  previously  l>e<'n  writ- 
ten for  uffur,  but  was  changed  to  its  present  form.  —  11.  amilu  band  iQIM).  See 
Tallqvist,  p.  57  and  61.  —  12.  wnliu  pa-Ai-ki.  For  other  passages  see  'iallqvist,  p.  118  ? 
also  his  note.  —  14.  Dated  in  the  year  640  B.  C,  as  the  preceding  tablet. 

Shapikzir  and  Nabueter  have  made  a  business  venture  together.    Be- 
sides the  little  money  they  invested,    they  borrowed  as  capital  to  work 

with  a  certain  amount  of  money  from  Bel ,  the  son  of  Nabushunir 

usur.  Now,  there  had  been  some  disagreement,  and  the  partners  sought 
to  frame  this  document,  as  an  agreement  explaining  their  relations 
toward  one  another.  Nabueter  is  thus  shown  to  be  i  of  a  mana  in  debt 
to  Nabushuraiddin,  which  sum  he  covers  by  real  estate  in  the  city  and 
in  the  country.  In  the  profit  derived  from  their  business,  both  are  to 
have  an  equal  share,  excepting  that  Nabueter  is  to  have  an  additional 
amount  of  two  shekels,  by  virtue  of  some  ser\'ice  (not  explained  in  this 
tablet)  rendered.  This  sum  is  to  be  paid  upon  his  name  ;  that  is,  he  is 
to  give  a  receipt  for  this  money  independent  of  the  tirm-uame,  he  alone 
receiving  the  money. 


NO.  1 «. 

FRONT. 

.  II  ET  ^T  H<  ^T  V  <- 1^  T?  ^T  SfT  i^]tj  :»imi 

.  Ejt  i5-  El!    W    T  ^tTtl  ►y  ►¥■ 

s-<s=<ItIA  l:ET5^EETf  TH  V  T^tM'^-^^ 

»t-El<TI   m  ^!  «  :eT<I  tE!  c^ 


Sixtli   Year  of  Nabonidusi. 


17 


.<   «  <n  411  ^^  ^T   IT   EE  -^I  ^T 

„::t  m  ►+  ^1  4i-  JT       -  V  :eTT  ^ 

,„  Jr  trItT  9^    V    3^  :^:  V,  ^^I  5^1  ^ItT  Sf^IIir 

BACK. 


„^    -^   m:    "^        T    --f    <:=^^T    :r^ 


►^f- 


.J?  I     V     T  ^-^11  :£!  V     Tf     I  V  -t^  I 
.J  'M:rltT  ^^    -^    ^11  TEj  }ii.|  -y-  y«< 

„n  T  -+  <«  5?:^  ^\  :i<T  T-  <  ^  yn 

,J  ^T  s?:  eeTMM    V   T   "^ti^T   ►^   ►^ 

.rlJ      £^    yn    ->f     ^      V    ^M    <TEJ      2<If    ^ 


TTT 


►¥■  EE  tt?:    T  "M^M  EE 


10 


6=^> 


►f-T 


}  m 


Tablet  Is  of  a  dark  brown  color,  the  reverse  la  almt>.st  black  \\}ixVi  Inches,  and  rectangular. 
The  signs  are  not  very  distinct.  The  left  and  right  sides  are  not  written  upon. 


Transliteratum. 

1  1/3  ma-na  kaspi  6a  Bani-a-tu-t-sag-ila 

2  marat-8u  Sa  Natft-Sum-iddin 

3  ina  Hi  Ba-ni-ia  apal-Su  da  Nabfi-Sum- 

iddin 

4  apal  "Jnilu  dangu  Ninip  u  Ra-mu-u-a 

£  aidati-iu  kaspu  man-da-at-tum 


TVanslation. 

1  X  n^ana  of  money  which  Baniattiesagila, 

2  duujrhter  of  Nabushiimiddin, 

3  is  to  receive  from  IJania,  the  son  of  Xa- 

bushiimiddin, 

4  the  son  of  the  priest  of  Ninip,  and  of 

Humiia, 

5  his  wife.  The  money  is  the  wages 


18 


The  MetropoUtau  Museum  of  Art. 


6  6a  Si-nu-nu  aA-sat^ti  10  (u  kaspi 

7  i-nam-di-nu  a-di  3  6u  &atta 

8  u  nifi-ru  gab»bu-tu  2  i-na-6u 

9  Ho-an-na-'-Su  a&-6at-su-au 

10  mai^-karnu  i^a  Bani-a-tu-l-sag-ila 

11  ttmilu  mu-kin-nu  Ma'duk-Aarra-ni 

12  apal-§u  6a  Bll-iki-6a   apal  Sa-tab  i-du 

13  NabQ-zir-iddin  nmilu  xaki   ftipri   dalni 

14  Sapik-zir  apal  Nlrgal-musallim 

15  apal  Siu-ga-ga^nim-mi  u  xmilu  dupsa? 

16  Ba-ni-ia  apal-.^u  6a  Nabii-Suin-iddin 

17  apal   <i>nil>>    6angu    Ninip  Babilu 

ara^  Adaru 

18  (imu  6  kam  iattu  6  kam  Nabft-na'id 

10  fiar  Babili 


6  of   Siniinii  the  xervunt.    10  ttlifkelx  <if 

vnowy 

7  they  will  fjivo,  t«)geth«'r  with  'A  uhii  a 

year, 

8  and  the    rutin'    siiIDv?!    the  two    will 

brinjf. 

9  niinuVhu  fh«»lr  maid-servant 

10  is  the  seeiirity  of  Buniutuetiagila. 

11  \\  itness:  Manliiksharruni, 

VZ  the  son  of  lielikisha,    the  son  of  Rlia^ 
ikbtiKhu; 

13  Nabuziriddin,    the    mewMin^er    of    the 

judgits; 

14  Shupikzir,  the  Run  of  Ner^linutuilliui. 

15  the  8on  of  Siugafpinimme;  and  theiirrilM* 
IG  Rania,  the  Kon  of  Xahushuiniddin, 

17  tile  son  of  the  priest  of  Ninip.  rat>yliiii. 

in  the  month  Adar, 

18  on  the  (Jth  day  of  the  6  th  yoar  of  >  a- 

bftna'id, 

19  King  of  italtylon. 


NOTES. 
1.  Baniatu.'  A  form  from  tlio  root  band  "to  build."  Hence,  probably,  "daughtAT." 
Compare  the  Hebrew  T\l'2  "to  iM'^'et,"  Gen.  xxx :  3.  Isagila  was  the  name  of  the  teui- 
pel  of  Mardiik  at  lubylon  ,Z.  A.  H,  )..  179;  Tiele,  Habyloniscb-AsxyrLiche  Geschiclit*-. 
p.  541 ;  Jensen.  Cosmologie  j).  49^:  Hommcl,  Babylouis«-h-A««yri«che  Genehiehte  p.  2;J<i : 
.Sayee,  Babylonian  lielijritui,  p.  64).  Henee  the  name  implies  that  she  was  born  or  lived  in 
its  neighborhood.  —  0.  a^sattu  here  lias  the  meaning  of  "servant,  hlave."  It  Kt'ner- 
ally  means  "wife.'  —  7.  'Ihesijrn  Su  is  often  taken  to  Iw  aanitu  "time."  Jensen  (C  o>- 
mologie  p.  4'7(,  liowever,  doubts  it  ;  also  W  inckler  in  A.  &  W.  Keilschritttexte, Schrift- 
tafel  No.  C47.  Here  it  is  some  artiile.  If  4u  is  to  be  read  Aanitu,  liania  and  his  wifes«><>m 
to  agree  to  pay  the  remaining  10  shekels  (1  mana  -  60  shekels,)^  mana  -  20  shekels; 
10  they  pay  immediately,  leaving  10  to  be  paid)  in  three  installments  during  the 
year.  For  the  word  §attu  see  I'ognun,  L '  inscription  de  lUivian,  p.  168.  —  8.  ni4-i-u 
must  have  the  meaning  of  '-sum"  or  "debt"  in  this  passage;  cf.  Tallq.  p.  108.  It  is 
curious  that  the  simple  numeral,  two  vertical  wedgeiJ,  suflices  to  denote  the  "two'* 
persons.  —  14.  'Ihe  serib*-  wrote  apal  instead  of  apal-Su  4a;  the  latter  usually  pre- 
cedes the  father's  name,  while  the  former  precedes  the  family  name.  Some  other  rea- 
son, however,  may  have  prompted  this  omission.  —  18.  I>ated  in  tlie  year 549  II.  C, 
as  the  two  preceding  tablets*. 


Bauiatues.igilii  had  loaned  her  brother,    the  prie.»*t  of  Ninip,    and  hi.s 


FJqWi   Year  of  Nahonidus.  19 


wife  lur  slave  Sinuiui  for  "20  sliekels  wages.  Baiiia  was  not  rich  enough 
to  pay  the  amount  iniraediately,  so  he  j>aid  10  shekels  at  once  and 
promised  to  pay  the  reniiiinder  during  the  year.  Until  this  agreement 
liad  been  complied  with,  the  sLive  of  Bania  and  lils  wife  was  to  remain 
as  security  with  his  sister.  Even  among  so  closely  related  members  i)l'  a 
family  legal  forms  had  to  be  complied  with  1 

NO.  17. 

FliOKT. 

,IL  T  IM  }}<  -^T    T    T  ^  -J  <ti^\   Vi  I    V 
...  T  :£T  V  !^   }}   T  ^1  -4-  <«   -<t^t?  T  A 
-A  V,  t^  ^   ^  ^I-  -ET   T  -^  -J    <^} 
J?   I  ^1  --^  <«   £!lliH«^I  ^  E^  V  2<i?  m 
.  7  -^  EEf  tjE  T  ^t]ti]  A^-  It  t^  ^}  m 

.m^\  7  i^  -^i  wi  ^]w  m  ^  ^i  !=innii 

,^  -^  JET  ^   T  --f  -  ^I!   n  I    V 

,.!  ►^  t-  <T-  '^    n   ^  «CI'   -J    ^I  ^T 


20 


The  Metropolitan  Museum,  of  Art. 


„Tf   I  ^^  E!  5^:     V  <^,  m    'M-\   lEI 


16 


.-i^* 


\  m 


Tablet  of  a  light  brown  color.  l><^  x  2  Inches.  The  stgrns  are  plainly  and  neatly  made.  All  thea- 
vullable  spaco  on  the  tablet  i.s  used  for  writing,  though  the  llueK  and  the  individual  algiiH  lu-e 
well  divided.  A  large  round  bole  In  the  middle  of  line  4.  extending  Into  line  6.  and  a  small  brvalc 
at  the  end  of  line  7.  are  the  only  things  that  mar  the  pc^rfectlon  of  tuib  lltUe  tablet.  The  word« 
"  King  of  Babylon"  are  found  In  the  middle  of  the  left  side. 


TrttHtiWtmi'wn. 

1  1/3  (mana '  4  ^u  kaapi  6a  Iddin-Ma  duk 

apal-6u  Aa 

2  I^l-6a-apla  apal  N<ir-8in  ina  Hi 

3  A-ra-bi  """u  gal-la  Iddin-Marduk 

4  apal     Ndr-Sin     i^(i-ru    i-na  !)    ara^ 

Ululu 

5  6a  6attu  8  kam  Nab(i-aa'id  ftar  Babili 

6  6a  timu  ina  ili-6u  i-rab-bi 

7  kaspu  6a  a-na  manzaza  u-da-nu-tu  . . . 

8  iddin-nu 

0  aiiiilii  mu-kin-nu   Bll-^arran  apal-6u  6a 

10  Mu-sal-lim-mu  apal  amilu  ftangu  Na-na 

11  Tab-ni-i    apal-6u  6a    NabQ-ahl-iddin 

12  apal  umiiu   6angu  >>>>   Za-ri-^u  u  ^mSlu 

dupsar  " 

13  Marduk-musallim  apal-6u   6a    Nabii- 

6ip-i.'8ur 

14  apal  Aha-ba-ni         Babilu  arah  Ululu 

15  amu  28  kam  6attu  8  kam   NabCl-na'id 

16  6ar  Babili 


TS'nnAaium. 

1  X  mana  4  >lii-kels  of  money  whielj  Id- 

dinnuirduk,  the  sou  of 

2  Ikiximpla,  the  Mon  of  N&rsin,  from 

3  Arabl,  the  ulave  of  Iddlnmarduk, 

4  tlu"  son  of  Nur^ln,  will  re«-eive  in  tli«« 

nionlli  I'liilu, 

6  of  the  8  th  yinir  of  Nabilna'id,  Klujf  of 
liabylon. 

6  Ever}'  «lay  a«ainst  lilm  it  will  increase, 

7  The  money,     which  for  witueiM  ^feen; 

was  K>ven,  (Arabl) 
6  baK  ^iven. 
9  Witnesses:  ndUarran,  the  son  of 

10  Musallim,  the  imn  of  the  prie«t  of  Nana; 

11  Tabn<*,  the  s<in  of  Nab&tU|ddln, 

12  the  son  of  the  priest  of  fZarlku^^nd  the 

twribe 

13  Mardukniusallim,  the  son  of  Xa])ii«|ii])- 

usiir, 

14  the  son  of  Ahabani.    Babylon,  in  the 

mouth  Ululu, 

15  on  the  28  th  day,  in  the  8  th  year  of  Na 

biinuMd, 

16  King  of  liabylon. 


EUjldh   Year  of  Nalxmldus.  21 


NOTES. 

1.  'Ihc  word  mona  is  omitted.  —  2,  The  scribe  had  written  the  sign  for  i  first,  in 
plaee  of  Nflr,  and  then  liad  changed  the  former  to  the  latter  sign.  —  3.  Arabi,  T  would 
take  as  first  having  denoted  the  nationality  of  the  slave,  (for  he  is  distinctly  called  amliu 
gal-lu  here,  >  then  Ihe  word  Ix'canio  a  proper  name,  and  we  find  one  Arabi,  the  son  of 
Bilsunu,  the  son  of  the  priest  of  Samafi,  mentiont^d  in  Strass.,  Cambyses  257,  14.  l.'i.  (Se«> 
also  note  to  Isaggilai,  20,(5.)  Between  lines  .3  and  4  apal-du  &a  I^l-da-apla,  his  fa- 
ther's name,  is  oniitt«'d,  and  only  the  family  name  is  given.  This  is  the  reason  why  we 
tin<l  simply  apal  beginning  line  4.  His  father's  name  is  given  in  line  2,  and  the  scribe 
evidently  lh<)nght  it  unnecessary  to  repeat.  —  4.  i^-^i-ru.  Half  of  the  sign  it,  and  also 
half  of  the  \i,  is  broken  off.  Xo  traces  are  visible.  The  sign  for  da  must  evidently  be  a 
mistake  for  na;  and  as  both  signs  are  very  common,  the  scribe  might  have  written  tin; 
one  for  the  other.  —  7.  u-da-nu-tu.  A  curious  form  from  nadanu.  For  forms  with 
final  tu(,mi,  see  Strass.,  Nbk.  78,  4;  iS'abn.  357;  525,  23;  &c.;  and  for  preformative  u,  see 
Strass.,  (yr.  2C,  {);  170,  7;  Z?t~,  12.  —  10.  Mu-sal-iim-mu.  The  final  syllable  must  be  read 
mu  and  not  6amu,  as  an  examination  of  the  same  name  in  25,  7  will  show.  Hu  Ifa-na. 
See  Z.  A.  HI,  p.  5;  A'lf,  p.  142;  Jensen,  Kosmologie  p.  102;  Sayce,  Babylonian  Re- 
ligion pp.  260,  ^82.  Compare  also  Payne  Smith,  Thesaurus  col.  2387;  Hoffmann,  Aus- 
ziige  ans  syrischen  Akten  persischer  MJlrtyrer  pp.130.  151  tf;  Lagarde,  Agathangelus 
1887  p.  135:  on  Sassanide  coins,  BOR  I,  p.  1C6;  ZDMG,  44,  669.  —  13.  ilu  Za-ri-^u.  This 
god's  name  is  fo\md  also  in  Strass.,  Cyr.  141,  14;  149,  12;  see  also  25,  13  of  this  book. 
Strassmaier,  A'erh.  des  5ten  Intern.  Orient.  Cong,  zu  Berlin  1881,  B.  42,  32  (p.  l;i4),  gives 
Za-ar-ri-]ku  as  the  name  of  a  man,   taken  undoubtedly  from  the  name  of  the  god.  — 

13.  Nabft-SlF-usur  for  NabCl-dipa-usui-,  "may  Jsebo  protect  the  feet." 15.  Dated  in 

the  year  547  B.  C. 


Iddinmarduk  lent  liis  slave  Arabi  24  shekels  of  money  in  the  month 
Uhilu,  which  the  latter  was  to  return  in  the  same  month.  As  a  slave 
was  not  held  responsible  for  his  actions,  but  his  master,  the  latter,  it 
would  seem,  did  not  wish  to  risk  his  money  for  a  longer  period.  Every 
single  day  was  to  increase  the  amount  ;  at  what  rate  of  interest,  we  do 
not  know.  This  daily  increase  seems  especially  severe,  for  a  slave 
could  not  have  been  but  a  poor  man.  The  latter  was  also  rcq.iired,  as 
an  additional  curb  to  his  business  ambition,  to  pay  the  witnes^  fees. 
With  this  imposition  he  seems  to  have  cheerfully  complied,  according 
to  line  8.  After  all  the  payments  to  be  made,  and  considering  the  short 
time  that  the  loan  had  to  run,  Arabi  must  have  had  to  contend  with 
great  financial  embarrassments.  Happy  he,  if  he  returned  the  money  at 
the  proper,  time  ! 


22 


The  Metropolitan  Maseunfi  of  Art. 


BO.  18. 

FliONT. 

» ->  8-  -^T  s«-  ::^  If  ^TrT  vT  <:  t--E  <!-  -^T 
.7    <4^m    C^T    <::=  m  'A^ 

.  V     I  tt}  -tT  EH    -^!  s?5T  y-    T^EM  I 

,Tf  ^  ^JIT  -f  V  4  I  ^tTtT  cT  -i? 
,„  TM    V    T  -Ht  <::^^'T  -^  s:    TM  rs:f  'McTtT 

.» t^/  -N  t^E   -e!  :eT  t  ^} 

TaWet  of  a  graylsb  brown  color,  \\i  x  l*i  Inches.  The  wrttlnjf  is  good  and  the  slirns  jJi-e  plainly 
made ;  with  the  exception  or  the  last  U\  e  slpis  of  line  a  These  are  written  so  c;o»ely  togviher 
and  are  so  lightly  imde.  that  it  Is  dllB<ult  to  decipher  them.  On  the  lower  edge  are  two  rows  of 
linger  nail  Impressions,  each  containing  sixteen  marks.  The  lower  row,  however,  is  mom  rtoepl.\ 
pressed  In. 


TramtViteTatioii. 
1  9  (u  kaapi  Iddin-Marduk  apal-Su  6  a 


Traniilttt'uni. 

1  9  shekels  of  money  Iddinniunluk.   ilip 
son  of 


Eighth    Year  of  Nabo7iid/us. 


2:3 


2  Iki-Aa^apla  apal  NCk.-sin  ina  ^ata 

3  Pu-na-ni-tum  a-di  tWit-tum  6i-na 

4  Aa  ultu  Ui  mi-^ir-tu 

5  is.  Ab-la-da  na-da-nu  a^iat-^u 

6  ina  bubulli  kaspa-Au  ma^-hir 

7  ina  manzazi  6a  Tab-ni-i-a 

8  apal-^u  6a  Nab(i-abi-iddin 

9  apal  amllu  gangu  8a-ma&  NabQ-is-kip 

10  apal-du    da     Marduk-fium-ibni      apal 

Idanin-Ifabd 

11  Baiaiba  ara^  Adam  ftmu  12  kam 


12  6attu  8  kam  NabA-na'id  §ar 


13  da^-hu-tum  la  barii-1 


Babili 


2  IkiKhapIa,  the  Hon  of  Ntkcciiti.  froM  th<- 

bands  of 

3  Piinanitum,   toj^cther  with  dtnibli*  Ww 

amount(?) 

4  which,  in  behalf 

5  of  Ablada,  he  gave  to  his  wif«' 

6  at  interest :   his  money  he  has  ii'feiv«!(l. 
Tin  the  presence  of  Tabnea, 

8  the  son  of  Nabuahiddin, 

9  the  son  of  the  priest  of  Shamatih;  Nabi'i' 

islvip, 

10  the  son  of  Mardukshumibni,  the  son  of 

Idauinnabu. 

11  Barsiba,  in  the  month  Adar,    on  th«' 

12  th  day, 

12  in  the  8  th  year  of  Nabuna'id,    King  of 

Babylon. 

13  A  further  demand  there  is  not. 


NOTES. 

3.  ti-lit-tum.  The  meaning  of  this  word  Is  doubtful.  Peiser,  Hab.  Ver.  p.  30!),  trans- 
lates "Auflage"  ;  and  Tallqvist,  p.  41,  follows  him.  The  word  occurs  also  in  the  same 
form  in  Strass.,  Nabn.  1058,  8.  fii-na  really  means  "two,"  but  if  it  must  be  translated 
thus,  it  ought  to  precede  its  substantive.  —  4.  mi-hii-tu  is  used  as  a  preposition  and 
means  "opposite."  Notice  the  identity  of  the  signs  hir  and  tu.  —  5.  na-ta-nu  must  bi- 
read  na-da-Du.  See  Deluge 'I  ablets,  1.187,  tu-ud-da-a  at-ta  "thou  shalt  know."  —  7. 
manzazi.  For  other  examples  see  'iaiq.  p.  103,  and  Peiser,  Bab.  Ver.  LIU,  6.  The  word 
in  the  Deluge  Tablets,  lines  141  and  143,  means  "a  resting  place"  (Haupt,  B.  A.  1,173. 
—  9.  The  name  of  the  god  Shamash  is  here  spelled  out,  usually  the  ideogram  tu  is 
written.  —  Barsiba  or  "Borsippa,"  the  name  of  the  Tabylonian  city  founded  by  Neb- 
uchadrezar.  Many  tablets  are  dated  from  this  city.  See  Straps.,  Cyr.,  Inhaltsverz.  p.  14; 
Camb.,  Inhaltsverz.  p.  16;  Ac.  —  12.  Hence  in  the  year  547  B.  C.  —  13.  The  meaning 
of  dah-h«-tum  is  uncertain.  I  would  connect  it  with  dahfl  "to  touch,"  and  dihu  "neigh- 
borhood." Its  position  at  the  end  of  the  tablet,  and  the  fact  that  it  is  used  in  the  phras«' 
in  which  ladfLta  is  generally  used,  would  give  it  a  meaning  similar  to  "demand." 

The  sense  I  derive  from  the  tablet  is  this  :  Iddinmarduk  has  lent  Ab- 
lada 9  shekels  of  money,  together  with  a  small  araoimt  that  he  gave  to 
the  latter's  wife.  He  now  receives  his  money  back.  The  interest  on  the 
9  shekels  and  on  the  amount  loaned  besides,  has  now  become  as  great 
as  the  latter  amount.  Hence  we  have  the  expression  double  amount. 
Tlie  entire  sense  of  the  tablet  rests  upon  the  supposition  that  ^'tcliUutU" 
means  ^'■amount" 


24 


The  Metropolitan  MutieUrn  of  Art. 


NO.  19. 

FRONT. 

,}}<^]    I     V     IT    S:^T     -^    T«< 

J  ^i  -ET  mr   et  A.  s# 

.^     s^T   :eTI     V 

aT   'Mil   ►S^    T«<   ET   V 

,n  I   T   T  -II  I  -^ 

.<     T   "=^n   T?   -^     If    I     T 
J  :^f   ^   eTT     si?   S 

►¥■    EEE    tB. 


'I  <  s  tl 


Tablet  of  a  light  brown  color.  l><xi»i  Inches.  The  8l(ms  are  crudelj' made  and  much  of  tho 
space  Is  not  used.  The  lower  right  hand  c«nier  ol  the  reverse  Is  effaced,  destroying  the  word 
BnbUi.  traces  of  the  upper  part  of  which,  however,  can  yet  be  clearly  distinguished.  Two  rows  of 
finger  nail  marks  are  found  on  the  upper  side :  the  Unit  with  eight,  and  the  second  with  thlrt«'en 
'nrtentatlous.  rndoubtedly  the  first  row  also  contained  thirteen  marks,  and  Ave  of  these  have 
been  broken  off. 


TrttHsUterai'ion. 

1  1/3  ma-na  4  tu  kaspi  hubulla 

2  kaspi-du  da  2  ta  danati 

3  Iddinmarduk  ina  kata 

4  Ba-la-(u  ma-hi-ir 


Translation. 

1  X  liana  4  shekels  of  money,  the  intt-n'st 

2  on  his  money  for  two  years, 

:5  MdinmanUik  from  the  bands  of 
4  Bahitu  lias  received(7). 


Ninth   Year  of  Nahonidns. 


25 


5  ina  manzazi  k&. 
8  Bll-ahl-ikl-Sa 

7  apal-6u  ia  Bil-du-nu 

8  u  Bil-apal-iddin  apal-du  3a 

9  t-tnid-8u  arah  Saba^u 

10  flmu  16  kam  Sattu  9  kam 

11  Nabtl-na'id  iar  [mat  Babili]. 


Ti  In  the  pr(>sonc«>  of 

(i  Itt'liiliikisliu, 

7  the  son  of  Hclshunii ; 

S  and  1i4>la]mli(l(liM,  th<>  son  of 

*.)  Knudsti.  In  tin*  month  Sbabat, 

10  on  the  ICtli  day,  in  tlie  9tli  your  of 

11  NaWuna'id,  King  of  l?al)ylon. 


NOTES. 


4.  ma-hi-ir.  The  sijrn  for  hi  is  bhirrod  and  indistinct,  and  I  \va«  led  to  road  u  in  its 
stead  in  the  first  edition  of  this  hook.  Now.  indeed,  the  form  of  the  word  is  clear  and 
t lie  sense  of  the  passaire  is  ol)vious.  The  same  form  occurs  in  ;50,  8.—  5,  manzazi. 
(  onsult  note  to  18,  7.  —  9,  As  no  mention  of  a  city  is  made,  we  are  led  to  infer  that 
Bahylou  is  meant.  —  10.  This  tablet  is  tliorefore dated  in  the  year  546  B,  C. 

Balatu  has  loaned  a  certain  sum  of  money  from  Iddinmarduk  and 
now,  at  end  of  two  years,  he  brings  the  interest,  \  mana  and  4  shekels. 
Or,  as  a  mana  contains  60  shekels,  he  brings  24  shekels.  We  are  not 
told  the  rate  of  interest  in  this  case;  and  as  the  latter  varied  greatly 
from  exorbitant  to  insignificant  rates,  we  are  entirely  in  the  dark,  how 
nmch  the  sum  of  money  loaned  amounted  to. 


NO.  J>0. 

PltOKT. 

J?  ;   V   T  £!  -E!  n    If   I  ^^\  4f^  ^ 
.^!  -!I<!  -T!<!  tl    :r<l<j    ^    ^\   ^Itj   + 


26  The  Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art. 

,_£v  .^    lEI    ^        T  "t^Tf^T  -^    n  I    V 

nil' 

„  'm  S    ^T  «  ^T  ^vr    -^  EEE  t0E 


►--< 


TTT 

T 


▼^T 


Tablet  of  a  light  gray  color.  iJi  x  I5f  inches.  The  signs  ar«  very  indistinct,  as  If  made  liv  i 
dull  stylus.  The  left  edge  Is  not  luHcrlbed.  otherwise  all  the  available  space  is  used.  The  only  se- 
rious imperfection  is  a  small  round  hole  in  line  ii  of  the  n; verse,  breaking  out  the  signs  for  Baui 
to.  A  fevr  other  unim|)ortant  lacunae  occur  In  lines  14  and  15. 


TnmxliUration. 

1  4  (u  kaspi  6a  Nabii-balat-i^diii 

2  m&r-du  6a  ^il-la^s  zn&r  Aa 

3  Na-6i-ir-na-a  &a  ina  Ui  Nabd-o^l-iddin 

4  apal-Su  6a  §u-lara  apal  t-gi-bi 

5  tbnu  24  kam  6a  ara^  daba^u  i-nam-din 

6  pa-ri-ri-is  al-pa  aiparra 

7  §a  Mu-Sl-zib-Bll  a^na 

8  Natft-ahl-iddin  id-di-nu 

9  amilu   mu-kin-nu    Natd-iddin   apal-6u 

6a 
10  Mu-6l-zib-BU   apal  Na^i-i-Nabd-apla 


TranHlatum. 

1  4  Rbekelx  of  money  of  NabAlialatiddin. 

2  the  van  of  Sill4,  the  wn  of 

'■^  Na-shema,   which  he  is  to  receive  from 
Nabuahiddin, 

4  the  sun  of  Shuli,  tiie  son  of  Eglbi. 

5  On  the  24  th  day  of  the  month  Sh:«l>:it 

he  will  fjfve 

6  the  sheep  ?\  the  ox,   and)  thecopjKT, 

7  which  MuHhezibbeJ  to 

8  Nabnuliiddin  gave. 

9  Witness's:  Nabuitldiu,  the  s»m  of 

10  M)i.she/.ilihi-l,  the  son  of  NaKbenabdapia; 

I 


Ninth  and  Vtiidh   Years  of  Nabonidus. 


27 


11  Iddin-Xabd  spal-du  ka.  [Bani-iaJ  apal 

Du-ub-bi 

12  u  Hmilii  dupsar  Nabft-abl-iddin  apal-du 

aa 

13  Su-la-a  apal  t-gi-bi  Babilu 

14  ara^  §aba(u   amu  23i  P)  kam  iattu  9 

kam 
16  Naba-na'id  dar         BabilL 


11  Iddiiinabti,  t\w  son  of  Kania,  the  hoii  of 

Dul)bl ; 

12  and  the  8crlb«i  Nabiiahiddin,  the  son  of 

13  Shul&,  the  son  of  Egibi.  Babylon, 

14  in  the  month  Shabat,  on  Mm  23  rd  day, 

in  the  9  th  year  of 

15  Nabftna'id,  King  of  Babylon. 


NOTES. 

2.  maru  and  aplu  are  trsed  indisiTiminately  hi  the  Contract  Tablets,  —  3.  The  sign 
for  6a  is  a  little  peculiar.  We  gem'rally  And  ttco  small  vertical  wedges  above  one  heavy 
vertical  wedge,  here  we  have  only  mie.  1  have  printed  three  in  oth»T  cases,  because  my 
type  did  not  contain  the  sign  with  two,  and  because  it  is  more  easily  recognized.  —  6. 
pa-ri-ri-is  I  would  connect  with  parratu  "a  female  sheep"  ('lallqvist,  p.  117;  Delitzsch, 
Asjtyr.  Stud.  p.  166i.  '1  he  word,  liowever,  if  read  correctly,  must  be  classed  among  the 
unknown.  —  11.  Without  doubt  Bani-la,  as  the  first  signs  show.  There  is  room  for 
only  two  signs.  —  13.  The  form  of  gl  is  curious.  The  other  parts  of  the  sign  the  scribe 
must  have  forgotten,  as  such  a  sign  was  not  in  use  among  the  Babylonians.  On  tablet 
vtt),  lines  2  and  3,  of  thisbooli,  we  find  it  written  in  the  form  of  a  single  vertical  wedge. 
The  size  of  the  break  in  this  line  will  admit  of  but  two  more  vertical  wedges.  —  14. 
I'ablet  dated  in  the  year  546  B.  €.,  as  the  preceding. 

Nabubalatiddin  has  lent  Nabuahiddin  4  shekels  o/  money.  The  latter 
In-ing  unable  to  pay,  agrees  to  give  instead  of  cash  payment  the  sheep, 
th*?  «x,  and  the  copper  utensils  just  given  to  him  by  Mushezibbel,  one  of 
his  debtors.  Alpu  is  the  general  name  for  cattle  ;  he  therefore  might 
l»;4ve  promised  a  calf  or  a  cow. 


NO.  21. 

FHONT. 


28  The  Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art. 

:E^  I    V    T  J!  -El  If  !?   I  :^f  -TT4i.  :=: 
Jf    -^!      E!«=  "=!!!!«=  ^}*-     eTAT  M  ^^t 

,.  Elt  I    W    !  <:il  scf  -T-   T?   T  ^f-f  -TTA.  ti 

JiAVK. 

.Jf   T"3^^  If  If   n<f-^I^tM 
„,  EI«=  I    W   I  tU  -^I  If 
,jf  i:Ei<i::i:=$ 

«<  £i  yi^  I  £^i-+  <:^^I  If  I  V 
,j  R^i  -1^  ^if  r,  ^  5^1  -f  -+  -< 
»v  i'S^}   m     ssf   %fll  ::i^  I» 

«I  Mtltl  4i4  Ik     t^  V  ^^S:f   <£! 


Tenth   Year  of  Nahonidua. 


29 


Tablet  of  a  dark  yellow  color,  shading  to  black  at  the  lower  right  hand  corner  of  the  obverse. 
SlEe :  2  X  2%  inches.  At  the  end  of  the  tablet  there  is  a  considerable  space  Q>i  Inch)  not  used.  Also 
between  lines  10  uiid  li,  the  scrltie  ha«  left  a  large  space.  None  of  the  four  edges  arc  written  upon. 
The  upper  »Hlge  of  the  obverse  is  broken  off  at  the  two  corners,  the  larger  break  being  on  the 
right  side.  The  extreme  right  of  the  obverse  is  also  damaged  in  many  places.  The  signs  are 
large  and  beautifully  made ;  and  the  lines  are  well  spaced. 


TrannUtrraiion. 

1  . . .  .&um-ukin-na  ma>&u  6a  Iddin- . . .  ■ 

2  ina  ^u-ud  Ub-bi-fiu  Kal-ba-a  ma:-du 

3  [6a]   larha-ta    Sa    Nabft-ahl-iddin-na 

[ma  -Su] 

4  da  Na"  fl-a^l-iddin-na  ul-tu  si-hi-ii 

5  u-rab-bu-fiu  u  li-nad-nu 

6  u  fia  ik-bu-Su  a-na  NatA-ahi-iddin-na 

7  m4r-Su  da  Su-la-a  apal  t-si-bi 

8  a-na  maru-u-tu  id-di-in 

9  Kal-ba-a  mar  §a  Nabfl-ahi-iddin-na 

10  Su-u 

11  amilii      miu-kin-nu        Lu-us-a-na-jitl-i- 

Marduk 

12  mar-Su  sa  Ki-rib-ti  apal  t-gi-bi 

13  Marduk-iddin  an»U«  IB-banl 

14  apal-Su  Sa  Marduk-ipi-iS 

15  apal  Zir-ai  Iddin-na-Nabd 

16  mar-Su  Sa  It-na^a 

17  apal  Da-bi-bi 

18  u  amilu   dupsar  Arad-Marduk  apal-Su 

Sa 

19  Bit-ti-ia  apal  «milu  i-maS  Bil 

20  Babilu  arah  Samna-am-a 

21  ftmu  4  kam  Sattu  10  kam 

22  Nabtt-na'id  Sar         Bablli. 


TransUition. 

1  — .  sbumukinna,  the  son  of  Iddin 

2  in  the  pleasure  of  his  heart,  Kalba,  the 

son  of 

3  lahata,  —  whom  Nabttahiddinna,  the 

son  of 

4  Nabuahiddinna,  from  smallness 

5  had  made  him  great,  and  had  indeed 

given 

6  also  what  he  had  promised  him,  —  to 

Nabuahiddinna, 

7  the  son  of  Shula,  the  son  of  Egibi, 

8  for  adoption  gave. 

9  Kalba,  the  son  of  Nabfiuihiddinna, 

10  is  he. 

11  Witnesses:  Lusananurimarduk, 

12  the  son  of  Kiribti,  the  son  of  Egibi ; 

13  Mardukiddin,  the  cai-penter, 

14  the  son  of  Mardukepesh, 

1.5  the  son  of  Zirai ;  Iddinnanabd, 

16  the  son  of  Ibna, 

17  the  son  of  Dabibi ; 

18  and  the  scribe  Aradmarduk,  the  son  of 

19  Bit'ia,  the  son  of  the  priest  of  Bel. 

20  Babylon,  in  the  month  Marcheshwan, 

21  on  the  4  th  day,  in  the  10  th  year  of 

22  Nabiina'id,  King  of  Babylon. 


NOTES. 

1.  The  name  does  not  occur  again  on  the  tablet ;  we  therefore  cannot  supply  the  mis- 
sing links.  —  3.  That  the  son  bears  the  same  name  as  his  father  is  very  rare.  The  brea^ 
at  tlic  end  of  the  line  will  admit  of  only  the  two  signs  apal  and  Su.  —  4.  5.  "From 
smallness  had  made  him  great"  is  an  expression  for  which  I  can  find  no  parallel  in  any 


30  The  Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art. 


<*ontract  tablet.  The  sen-oe,  however,  is  very  plain.  Kalba  had  been  a  slave,  and  Nabfui« 
hiddin  adopted  him,  thtix  making;  him  a  free  man,  and  ^ivin^  him  all  the  privile  get) 
that  freedom  implied.  TIiIh  was,  indeed,  a  leap  from  Kmallnexs  to  greatness.  —  5.  U- 
nad-nuwith  thepreeative  li.  This  ooiturs  often.  —  G.  This  Xabuahiddin  must  be  the  fa- 
ther, the  one  mentioned  in  line  4.  —  8.  ma  litu  is  the  t4'rm  n-jfiilarly  ust^d  to  i^ignify 
"adoption."  —  9.  10.  These  lines  give  the  gist  of  the  whole  tul)let.  It  is  a  quaint  sen- 
tence and  is  entirely  to  tlie  point.  —  13.  IB-banl  "earpenter."  a  provisional  transla- 
tion. —  10.  i-maS  is  an  ideogram.  The  name  of  this  scribe  occurs  also  iu  25,  17.  But 
here  his  family  name  is  given  as  apal  "'nilu  6angu  Bll,  thus  proving  conclusively  that 
l-oiail  is  a  synonym  of  &angu,  and  pomibly  ought  to  be  read  iangu.  Tor  other  paHHogcit 
where  it  occurs,  see  Tallq.  p.  4.'>.  —  £0.  It  is  curious  to  note  how  the  name  of  the  month 
Marcheshwan  is  spelled  out.  The  tirst  of  the  three  signs  is  deemed  suftlcient  in  nearly  all 
the  other  cases  where  the  name  occurs.  Cf.  L'>,  14;  27,  4.  5.  —  21.  Dated  In  tiie  year 
545  B.  C. 

Nabualii<l(lin  had  become  possessed  of  Kalba,  the  slaw  of  Nabu(?)- 
hihiimukiii.  He  liiinsi-If  had  no  issue,  and  was  tlius  h>d  to  adopt  the 
hhive,  to  whom  lie  had  iui<loubtedly  taken  a  fancy.  In  onlcr  to  do 
so,  he  Iiad  to  obtain  the  consent  of  Kalba's  fonner  master,  so  that  uo 
stain  might  remain  upon  his  chumcter  or  his  social  standing.  This  course 
woidd  also  effectually  prevent  all  legal  proceedings  for  reclaiming  the 
slave  on  the  ground  that  lie  belonged  to  the  king,  tliat  he  had  never 
been  properly  sold,  or  for  any  other  real  6x  fictitious  reason. 

It  was  a  common  custom  amoug  the  ancient  Babylonians,  if  they 
were  childless,  to  adopt  worthy  slaves.  And  if  we  remember  that  many 
noble  and  educated  men  of  neighboring  nations  were  reduced  to  slavery 
by  the  fre<juent  and  merciless  raids  of  the  Babylonian  kings,  and  were 
brought  to  Babylon  for  sale,  we  shall  not  at  all  be  surprised  to  find 
these  taken  into  Babylonian  ftimilies  and  there  adopted. 

NO.  an, 

FJiONT. 

,IL  ET -^T  W  HM  ??< ^!  V  TIm::!!]!-:  :i 
J?  I  T  T  "=^::I::T  ^  !<«  -^  If  }^}  13ii«« 


Teiith   Year  of  Nalionidus. 


m 


.  ??<  ^'I I  Efc  t^  ^^tT^'I  -^  -^^  -.f  IH  <T-m  I  -EM  ^ITT 
,EK:  :^  :eTT  V  T  s^^!''J^-4-  iT-^  -ET 

BACK. 

, J?    ^  R^  Sf:^5  5^-  ^T    ^}  S-T  21   V    }}<  ^T 

.-..I?  I  T  TTMf  i;  T^I<=^ETH< 

» in  :p  <«  --I  I  -^^  ^]  Ti  I  T  T  ^tH    v^^  -^ 

„  V  ^^1:^?  <IEI   2<i^  y  ^^1  <  tfe- 

.  -^  <  «=£E  T  "^tlcT  Et  t<i<  V  ^^f  mi 


Tablet  of  a  grajrlsh  brown  color,  WaX  -iJi  Inches.  The  upper  right  hand  corner  of  the  obverse  Is 
broken  off.  destroying  the  end  of  the  first  two  lines,  and  also  the  last  sign  of  the  last  line  of  the 
reverse.  All  the  signs,  however,  can  be  easily  suppUel  The  writing  is  cleai",  and  the  signs  dis- 
tinct and  well-made.  The  left  side  alone  bears  no  Inscription. 


TransUteration. 

1  1/3  ma-na  5  tu  kaspi  da  [Itti-Marduk- 

balatu] 

2  apal-du  ia  Nab£l-a^i-iddiu  apal  l-[gi- 

bij 

3  ina     ili     Arad-Marduk     apal-su     §a 

l£arduk-iti-ir 


jyansUttiott, 

1  3^  mana  5  shekels  of  money  which  Itti- 

mardukbalatu, 
:i  the  sou  of  Xabftahiddin,  the  son  of  Kjrl- 

bi, 
3  is  to  receive  from  Araihuarchik,  the  son 

of  Marduketer, 


32 


The  Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art. 


4  apal  amilu  ga        |abti-ilu  Ina  ara^  Aim 

kaspa.a.an 

5  1/3  ma-na  5  (u  u  ^ubulla-fiu  i-nam-din 

6  Mi-fa-tum  gal-lat-au  mad-ka^nu 

7  fii  Itti-Ma  duk-balatu  a-di  iU  ia  Itti- 

Marduk-balafu 

8  kaspa-Su     j-dal-li-mu     NabCl-u-Su-da- 

kata 

9  marat-8'3  ia  Ta-ki§-Ou-la 

10  apal  a«n""  Ijlpu  pu-ut  i-Jl-ru  ia  kaspi 

11  na-Sa^a-ta  amilu  mu-kin-nu  Ri-mut 

12  apal-du  6a  Ai  apal  Arad-Nlrgal 

13  Ri-dal-Samafi  apal-ftu  6a  1\\  -Marduk 

14  apal  lpi-i6-ilu  Zir-dtu  apal-ilu  6a  Nab&- 

Bir-iddin 

15  u    •mliu   dupsar      Itti-Marduk-bala(u 

apal-6u  6a  Arad-Bll 

16  Babilu  ara^  Adam  <imu  10  kam 

17  isttu  10  kam  Naba-na'id  iar  Babili 


4  the  son  of  the  governor  of  hlj«  portion. 

In  the  month  Air  in  cash 

5  the  %  rauna  5  shekels  and  its  interest  he 

will  give. 

6  Misatum,  his  stave,  is  the  security 

7  of  Ittimardukbalatu  until  thut  Ittimar- 

dukbalatu 

8  his  mont-j    has  received.    Nab&shuda- 

kata, 

9  the  daughter  of  'I  akishgula, 

10  the  son  of  the  guardian,  has  received  a 

receipt  for  the  money 

11  she  brought.  Witnesses:  Kimut, 

12  the  son  of  Ai,  the  son  of  Aradnergal; 

13  Ridalshamash,  the  son  of  Eterraarduk, 

14  the  son  of  Kpeshilu  ;  Zirfttu,  the  son  ot 

Nabiizlriddin ; 

15  and  the  scribe  Ittimardukbulatu,    the 

son  of  Arsdbel. 

16  Babylon,   in  the  month  Adar,  on  the 

10  th  day, 

17  in  the  loth  year  of  Nabftnu'id,  King  of 

Babylon. 


NOTES. 

This  tablet  has  already  been  published  by  Strassmaier  In  his  aut'Ograpb  texts  of  the 
reign  of  Nabonidus,  No.  479.  Several  of  the  signs  on  this  tablet  are  blurred,  which  fact 
accounts  for  the  differing  readings  of  the  first  edition  of  this  book.  —  4.  *n»Un  ^a  (abti- 
6u.  See  'lallq.  p.  76  for  other  instances.  —  5.  "its"  interest,  that  is,  the  interest  on  the 
)^  mana  5  shekels.  —  8.  Strassmaier  reads  Naba-6ip-tum-.n-. .,  whirh,  in  my  judg- 
ment, is  not  borne  out  by  the  signs  on  the  tablet ;  the  above  reading  seems  to  me  to  be 
the  most  likely.  —  Id.  »mllu  ^^ipu.  Tallqvist  on  p.  122  gives  a  number  of  meanings  for 
this  word,  and  many  passages  where  it  occurs.  na6ita,  lit.  ••brought,"  then,  ••lent." 
—  13.  Ri-dal-dama6.  Strassmaier  writes  mul  in  place  of  dal.  But  the  sign  dal  is  so 
plainly  made,  that  it  can  not  possibly  be  mistaken  for  mut.  —  17.  Dated  545  B.  C. 

Ittimardukbalatu  has  lent  Aradmarduk  25  shekels  which  the  latter 
promises  to  return  with  interest  during  the  month  Airn  (May).  Until 
this  payment  is  made,  Ittimardukbalatu  retains  a  female  slave  of  Arad- 
mardukbalatu  as  security.  Nabushudakata  is  also  to  receive  back  the 
money  she  loaned,  evidently,  to  Aradmarduk.  The  former,  because  she 
is  mentioned  on  this  tablet  together  with   Ittimardukbalatu,    and  bears 


JPfcenth   Year  of  Nahonidus.  33 

the  same  irlatioii  with  him  to  Aradinarduk,  she  nmst  in  somo  way  bo 
connected  with  the  latter.  Perhaps  she  is  his  wife,  though  no  state- 
ment on  that  point  is  made. 


NO.  sj;j. 

FRONT. 

,^  ^Y  ^\:\  n  4f<T    V     r^ 

.If    I  :^M  :=^    -     "M^    ^ 
E£   -T<Tf    ^ 

.:e:?i  I  V  I  -^i  V  If  If  I  >^  --f-  ^ 
„I-y-+<;:^^I  If  I  V  i-Piii  -y  7  tff 
„If     ^   Sf:   ^'A      I   ^I   ^      yn   fC^ 

.,3lf    S      '='1    H    e^^      ►y     <I    CtE 

„T   "Pltlcl   A4I-   It      ::^      V   t^j   m 


34 


The  Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art. 


15 


LEFT  SIDE. 


16 


•El    ^}    T 


ox 


Tatolet  ot  a  orown  color,  1^x2  Inches.  The  slgiuj  are  plalnl>-  wrlUen.  excepting  the  name  In 
the  nrst  line.  It  seems  a»  If  something  had  been  broken  off  In  the  beginning'  of  line  16.  As  the 
sense  Is  complete,  however,  the  part  effaced  may  not  have  contained  any  writing. 


TrannUltratiott. 

1  l/2ma-naka8pi  sa  Naba-rimu-lip-tum 

2  mar-6u  6a  dj-zu-bu 

3  uinllu  rab.ka-a-.i  da  ftarri 

4  ina  ill  Nabii-a^i-iddin 

5  uiniiu  dalnu  mar-&u  ia  da-la-s 

6  apal  1-gi-bi  ina  ara^  Adam 

7  i-nam-din 

8  aiiiiiu  mu-kin-nu  d  j-la-a 

B  mar-ilu  &a  It^i-Aa-apla  apal  Iddin-Bll 

10  Iddin-Marduk    apal-6u    Aa    Btl-Aum- 

i&ku-un 

11  apal  amilu  ^ipu  Na-din  dup-«ar 

12  mar     '"»»"   IR.SAIj.TABI  P  .SA 

Babilu 

13  arah  saba^u  (imu  2  kam  iattu  11  kam 

14  Natfi-na'ld  6ar         Babili 

15  ri-^i-it  2  1  2  ma-na  kaspi 
16 la  l-&a  &arri 


TrannUition. 

1  I...  mana  of  money   which   Xuhurcniii- 

liptiim, 

2  the  son  of  Shiizubu, 

3  tin-  rubkari  of  the  kinjf, 

4  is  to  riH-eive  from  Nuhiiuhiddin, 

5  the  indge,  the  aon  of  !<btila, 

G  the  son  of  Ejribi ;    in  the  montii   Adar 
7  he  will  jflve  dt). 
H  WltmtxMes:  Sbul&, 

0  the  mm  of  IkUhaplu,  .the  mn  of  Mdin- 
l»el; 

lU  Iddinnuirduk,    the  mm  of  BelsihuniUh- 
kun, 

11  the  >un  of    the  (^ardian ;    Na<lin   the 

MTib«', 

12  Hon  of  the Hahylon, 

13  in  the  month  Sbabat.  on  the  2nd  day, 

in  the  11  th  year  of 

14  Xabiina'id,  King  of  Pabylon. 

15  The  remainder  2}4  mana  of  money 
1$ does  not  belong  to  the  king. 


NOTES. 

3.  amilu  rab.ka-a-ri.  This  was  the  official  appointed  by  the  government  to  see  that  tlie 
weijrhts  and  measures  of  the  merchants  were  of  eoiTect  legal  size,  karu  means  a  dry 
measure;  it  is  the  "13  of  I  Kings  iv  :22.  In  Ezek.  xlv  :  11  it  is  also  used  as  a  liquid  meas- 
ure. For  other  instances  where  this  official  is  mentioned  see  Tallq.  p.  79,  —  4.  This  Xa- 
buahiddin  is  mentioned  also  in  12,  7. 9. 15.  —  11.  amilu  j^ ipu;  cf.  15, 10  and  note,  dupaar. 


Memnth   Year  of  JVabonidus\  36 

'lliis  form  is  rarely  found  on  the  fontnict  t^iblot ;.  nniUu  is  omittod  at  tlic  Ito^innin^, 
and  sar  is  added.  Ordinarily  tlie  sign  for  dup  sufHces  f  >r  tlie  w.trl  dupsi* ;  cf.  11,17; 
12,  19 ;  13,  16  ;  14,  24  ;  &v.  —  12.  The  reading  of  the  title  of  the  father  of  the  scribe  Is 
very  uncertain,  amll"  IR  occurs  very  often  on  the  tablets  (Tallq.  ]).  .'>0  ,  Jnit  the  remain- 
ing signs  are  so  indistinct,  that  1  venture  to  give  them  only  w  ith  great  reserve.  —  13. 
In  the  year  544  B.  ('.  —  15.  The  whole  debt  must  have  consisted  of  3  mana,  only  J^ 
in-.Mia  of  which  was  to  be  paid  in  the  month  Adar  ;  al)out  this  remainder  there  was  un- 
doubtedly another  tablet  in  existence. 

Naburenmlipttim  has  loaned  Nahtiahidd'm  |  niaiia,  wliich  tho  latter 
promises  to  pay  back  in  the  month  Adar  (March).  Nabinemiiliptum 
nuist  have  belonged  to  the  household  of  the  king,  and  the  ^  mana  must 
liave  been  loaned  from  the  king's  funds  ;  for,  in  lines  1.')  and  16,  we  find 
a  remainder  mentioned  which  did  not  belong  to  the  king,  but  was  the 
private  propertv  of  Naburemuliptum.  The  fact  that  there  is  no  state- 
ment to  the  effect  that  the  ^  mana  belonged  to  the  king,  is  no  proof;  for 
Naburemuliptum  had  lent  the  money,  and  he  alone  was  responsible  for 
its  return.  He  also,  undoubtedly,  kept  a  private  account  of  his  loans 
and  disbursements  for  the  king.  The  attributes  in  lines  3,  5,  11,  and 
j)ossibly  12,  show  that  the  contracting  parties  must  have  been  of  high 
standing,  and  render  the  above  explanation  of  the  tablet  very  probable. 

NO.  24. 

FJIONT. 

J  El  V  If  T?  I  -^f  -f  <«  -c^Itl  A 
,  T  "^:rltl  Ep  ^  in  T  T  ET  V  If  I?  I  ^I  ^^  <^\ 

.  V  M-}  -<^}t]  A  I  :ei  c?:  :^f  \m}}<  ^1 
.  -  iiiiiiiiii  ^^stti  r-^ii  4f <i «  ^ 

« If  I   V   I  -^  <^^]  -f  lA  s-  -^i 

.^}  t^::I  <il     ^I  'V      :sif  S^^I  If  -+ 


36 


The  Metropolitan  M'u.se^iin  of  Art. 


sil 


ES^    EE  -f  <Tf  *'i^ 


BA  VK. 


T  ►MtTtI  Htil 


I?     T   -f   A4f   ►^   -y 
.V     ;^  yn   --f  t-^    -I]     T  "^11  If  -^ 


»-<x 


Taolet  of  a  dark  gray  color.  \)i  x  8V  Inches.  On  tbe  left  side  there  Is  no  writing.  A  ffew  lines  of 
both  obverse  and  reverse  are  prolonged  over  the  right  side.  The  writing  Is  plain  throughout. 
Some  portions  of  the  left  side  of  the  obverse  are  coven-d  with  a  hard  substance,  which  renders  a 
few  of  the  signs  dUHcult  to  read.  In  Ihies  5  and  8  in  tbe  lacunae,  traces  of  tbe  signs  for  "hubuUu' 
can  be  seen.  But  on  the  left  upper  comer  nothing  can  be  read,  as  the  tablet  Is  there  covered 
with  this  ninty  accumulation,  the  removal  of  which  would,  I  fear,  entail  the  partial  destruction 
of  the  tablet. 


TranfUUeraiion. 

1  3  ma-na  kaspi  6a  Iddin-Marduk  apal- 

ilu  da 

2  I^l-ia-apla  apal  Ndr-sin  ina  ill 


3  Nabd-ban-aha  apal-§u  &a  I^l-Aarapla 

apal  Na-din-Marduk 

4  b.a  ar^a  ina  ill  1  ma-ni-i  1  (u  kaspi 

5  ina  [^ubulli]  i-rafc-bi  Bil-ri-man-ni 

6  apal-§u  da  Marduk-nusallim  pv-ut 

7  i-ti-ni  na-din  arha-ta.a.an 

8  [^ubuUa]  i-nam-din 


Translation. 

1  :>  in:ina  nf  money  which  Iddinmurdiik. 

the  son  of 

2  Ikisbiipla,  tbe  son  of  Ndrsin,   is  to   re- 

ceive from 

3  Nalmbanalia,  tlie  son  of  Ikisbapla,  tlie 

son  of  Nadinmarduk. 

4  Every  month  (at  the  rate  of)  upon  one 

munu  1  Mbekel  of  money 

5  at  interest  shall  increase.  Belriinanni. 

6  the  son  of  Mardukmusallim,  a  receipt 

/  ha.s  received  (and)  has  given.     Every 

month 
8  interest  he  will  give. 


Elextenth  Year  of  Nabonidus. 


37 


e  [amllu  mu-kin-nu]  Bll-apal-iddin  apal- 
6u  6a 

10  Nab<i-[iddin(  P}]   apal    Bamman-dum- 

iddin 

11  NatQ-iddin  apal-fiu  ia  Zir-ukin  apal 

12  6a  amilu  dangu  Quia  Bll-apal-iddin 

13  amilu  dupsar  apal-du  da  Da^-^i-Sa(  P) 

apal  Nabfl-lit-su 

14  Babilu  ara^  Saba(u  {Imu  12  kam 

15  dattu  11  kam  Nabfi-na'id 

16  k&v        Babili 


9  Witnesses:  Belapaliddin,  the  son  of 

10  Nabftiddin,  the  son  of  Kammanshum- 

iddin ; 

11  N'lbulddin,  the  son  of  Zirukin,  the  son 

12  of  the  priest  of  Gula ;  Relapaliddin, 

1  i  t'le  scribe,  the  son  of  Dahhisha,  tlie  son 
of  Xabiilitsu. 

14  I  dbylon,  in  the  month  Shabat,  on  the 

i;ith  day, 

15  in  the  11  th  year  of  Nabuna'id, 

16  King  of  Babylon. 


NOTES. 

3.  Nabft-ban-aha.  Peiser  in  his  Babyl.  Ver,  wrongly  transcribes  this  name  Nabft- 
ban-zir.  The  last  sign  never  has  the  meaning  :  zlru  "seed."  Strass.  in  his  C'aniby.  cor- 
rectly transcribes  Nabft-ban-afeu  (2, 13  ;  309, 11 ;  388, 17).  —  4.  The  rate  would  therefore 
be  12  shekels  a  year  on  one  mana,  or  20  per  cent.  The  form  ma-ni-1  is  generally  used  in 
this  connection.  For  other  examples  see  Tallq.  p.  86  and  Peiser  Babyl.  Ver.  p.  319ft, 
—  9.  amilu  mu-kin-nu  is  evidently  demanded  by  the  sense.  —  10.  Wabd-iddin.  Traces 
of  the  iddin  can  be  distinctly  seen.  —  11.  The  iu  at  the  end  of  the  line  is  either  omit- 
ted or  written  so  lightly  as  to  escape  detection.  —  13.  Dab-hi-Sa.  I  doubt  whether  this 
name  is  read  correctly. 


Iddinmarduk'had  loaned  Nabubanaha  3  mana  through  the  agency  of 
Belrimanni.  This  money  was  to  bear  interest  monthly,  and  consequently 
monthly  payments  are  demanded.  Belrimanni  seems  to  have  been  a  man 
like  the  modern  real  estate  agent.  He  gives  a  receipt  for  the  money  in- 
trusted to  him  to  Iddinmarduk,  and  receives  one  from  Nabubanaha,  to 
whom  he  had  given  the  money;  here  his  responsibility  ends.  He  doubt- 
less received  a  commission  commensurate  with  the  service  he  had  per- 
formed for  Iddinmarduk  from  the  latter.  This  we  might  find  recorded 
upon  another  tablet. 


NO.  25. 


FRONT. 


.  <  T  nm  t7<  ^!  V  -<M 


38 


The  Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art. 


,  IL  ET  ^T  H<  ^I  V  -  <!-  T  -m  -1141  I?  I  W 

J  -^  tT-  ^^tl^T  -^  TJ  -^T  <Xlt]  EE  vl  f<:^!^T 
« 3:T:rI  <!!  «=!!!«=  V  :<:TtT  -II  e^  y  Tf  V  I?  -^T  v  H  s^l 
.  T  £^I  .>-f  <ti^J  W  Xlt]  -m  1 1^  -^  5H I  vT  ^ 

„  <  rl-  -El  V    I  ^-^tltT  -1T<!  «  s^  131 


Tt^ 


»*ff-    ►» 


f  Tf 


nT?  ^  yn  -f  R  -TT<T 


If  H<  I?  B*:^I  I  ^ 


14 


i^  -^  ET<I  -^     I  --I^  iti^l  vllf  Ks    IM    V 

■,  I  -III  -I<I4l    If    I  £vl  -4'  <«^EI  W   I  'M'^I'^I  «^E5 

,.If  I  V  Its^:pflf  Tf  ]J.^^]^ 
„<  ^  tin  I  -^I  ^+  or^^'i  i;  I  V  I  s^I  -I-  ^ 
■8  If  ^  yn  --f  -<  V  t1^}  <IEI  2<if  El 
„^I«7   t^    "^   <I   cS      "^tM    Et      «^^ 


EletentU    Year  of  Ndbonidus. 


3D 


Tablet  of  a  dark  gray  color,  2  x  2',;  Inches.  The  left  side  Is  smooth  and  flat,  and  contains  no 
writing.  In  general,  the  writing  upon  the  tablet  Is  plain,  only  In  some  places  It  Is  worn  away  to 
such  a  degree  that  decipherment  Is  Impossible.  The  upper  left  hand  corner  of  the  obverse,  as  well 
as  of  the  reverse.  Is  entirely  broken  off.  At  the  end  or  the  tablet  t';ere  Is  also  a  bad  break,  but  this 
probably  contained  only  a  few  signs.   Line  il  Is  Just  on  the  lower  edge,  which  It  completely  Alls. 


TransUUration. 

1  11  tu  kaspi  6a  ina  pan [apal- 

2  §a  Id-da-a  9  tu  kaspi  da    ina  pan 

3  Natd-zir-iki-Sa  apal-fiu  §a   Sakan-§am 

Iddin-Marduk 

4  apal-Su  6a  Iki-fia-apla  a-na  ill  i-ti-li 

5  1/3  ma-na  kaspi  Sa  ina  pan  Ri-mut 

apal-6a  Sa 

6  NabCl-ukin-apla  t-a-na-air  apal-6u  ia 

7  Mu-sal-li-mu  a-na  i-li  i-ti-li 

8  ka-ru-u  Sa  ka-pak-i   A-Sa-a-na-6ad   sa- 

bit 

9  Arad-Marduk  6a  ka-ri-6u-nu   aii-us-ti- 

nu 

10  . . .    siri  15  tu  kaspi   6a  ina  pan  Had- 
6i- 

11  u  gal-la  6a  Nabfi-ri-man-ni 

12  5  ta  !;aspi  6a  ina  pan  Tat-ni-i- 

13  apal    ainiiu  §angu  il"  2ja-ri-ku  a-ha-a- 

ta-6u-nu 

14  amllu  mu-kin-nu  Marduk-iti-ir  apal-6u 

ia 


Translation. 

1  11  shekels  of  money  which  are  to  be  re- 

ceived from ,  the  son 

2  of  Idda,  (and)  9  shekels  of  money  which 

are  to  be  received  from 

3  Nabiizirikisha,  the  son  of  Shakanshum, 

—  Iddinmardiik, 

4  the  son  of  Ikishapla,  upon  (his)  account 

are  made  out ; 

5  3^  mana  of  money,  which  is  to  be  re- 

ceived from  Rimut,  the  son  of 

6  Xabukiuapla,  —  Eanasir,  the  sou  of 

7  JNlusallim,  upon  (hisj  account  is  made 

out; 

8  a  measure  of Ashanashad  took ; 

9  Aradmarduk    according  to   their  meas- 

ures   

10 of  land ;  15  shekels  which  are  to 

be  received  from  Radshi 

11  and  the  slave  of  Naburlmanni 

(and) 

12  5  shekels  of  money  which  are  to  be  re- 

ceived from  Tabnea, 

13  the  son  of  th€  priest  of  Zariku,  are  their 

shares. 

14  Witnesses:  Marduketer,  the  son  of 


40 


The  Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art. 


15  Rimut  apal  Arad-Nirgal  Nabtl-irii 

16  apal-fiu  Sa   Tab-ni-i-a  apal  A^a-ba-ni 

17  u  amilu  dupsar  Arad-Marduk   apal-du 

ila  Bit-tl-ia 

18  apal  amilu  fiangu  Bil  Babilu  arcfe 

19  dmu  24  kam  iattu  11  kam  Nabd-na'id 

fiar 

20  Babili  10  gur  il.bar  ia 

21  la-pc-ni  Itrti- [apai:?,] 

22  Bil-nafir  a-na 


15  Rimut,  the  son  of  Aradnergal ;  Nabft- 

eresh, 
IG  the  son  of  Tabneu,  the  son  of  Ahabani ; 

17  and  the  scribe  Aradmarduk,  the  son  of 

Eittia, 

18  the  sou  of  the  priest  of  Bel.    Babylon, 

in  the  month  I-uzu, 

19  on  the  24  th  day,  in  the  11  th  year  of 

Nabftna'id,  King 

20  of  Babylon.  10  measures  of  grain,  which 


21  is  to  receive  from  Itti ,  (the  son  of) 

22  Celnasirfor 


NOTES. 
1.  ina  pan  is  here  equivalent  to  ina  mifefei  or,  as  I  prefer  to  read,  ina  Hi.  It  means 
"in  the  service  of,"  and  tlion  in  an  extended  sense,  "to  Im?  received  from."  .See  Tallq.  p. 
116,  p4nu,  3.  —  8.  A  very  difficult  line,  ka-ru-u  I  take  to  mean  "measure,"  though 
that  word  is  generally  written  karu  (cf.  Tallq.  p.  79)  and  not  karft.  Tut  then  the  Greek 
KOpoffhas  both  vowels  short,  showing  that  the  pronunciation  must  have  varied,  kt- 
pak-i  can  possibly  be  some  variety  of  grain,  the  general  term  for  which,  ii.bar,  the 
scribe  mentions  in  line  20.  —  9.  an-u»-ti-nu  can  only  be  a  provisional  reading.  —  10. 
jl-i.  Aradmarduk  must  therefore  have  received  his  share  in  real  estate.  —  13.  a-^a-i- 
ta-Su-au.  This  form  is  found  also  in  Strass.,  Nabn.  572,  10;  653,  9;  and  Nbk.  SCO,  7. 
—  Dated  in  the  year  544  B.  C.  —  20.  The  scribe  had  forgotten  to  Insert  the  three 
lines  20-22  in  their  proper  place  in  the  body  of  the  writing,  therefore,  in  order  not  to 
omit  them  entirely,  he  adds  them  as  a  postscript  here  at  the  end.  —  21.  la-p»-ni  is  the 
exact  equivalent  of  the  Hebrew  ''!3S7  .  For  other  examples  see  Tallq.  pp.  89,  90;  Pel- 
ser,  Bab.  Ver.  CXXX,  19;  S.  A.  Smith,  Kellschrlfttexte  Assurbanipals  III,  p.  69;  and 
Del.,  Assyr.  Gram.  p.  224. 

The  explanation  of  this  tablet  is  easier  than  its  translation.  Very- 
likely  the  tablet  has  reference  to  proceedings  in  some  law  court.  A  cer- 
tain amount  of  money  and  grain,  perhaps  an  inheritance,  is  divided 
among  Iddinmarduk,  Eanasir,  Ashanashad,  Aradmarduk,  and  finally 
two  other  persons,  whose  names  are  broken  off.  Iddinmarduk  gets  20 
shekels;  Eanasir,  also  20;  Ashanashad,  a  measure  of  some  substance,  the 
value  of  which  probabably  also  amounted  to  20  shekels;  Aradmarduk 
takes  his  share  according  to  their  measures^  that  is,  20  shekels  worth, 
in  real  estate;   then  the  first  nameless  person  receives  his  20  shekels,  15 

from  Radslii and  the  slave  of  Naburimanni,    and  5  from  Tabnea ; 

finally,  Itti   pays  to  the  last  creditor  the   latter's   20   shekels   in 

grain. 


Thirteenth   Tear  of  Nabonidus.  41 

NO.  *ZQ. 

FRONT. 

,  J-  El  -^T  ;s  nu  ?f<^^i  Y I  <m  --f  i^^J  nil  ^ 

JU  V  T  "^tl::!  J^  !<«  -^  It  T  ^I-  I  :=^ 

»ETt  <-  EII  V  T  ^^ItT  ►^  ^  5?  ^I  ET<T 
jf  T  S^T  :^ytT  ^IT4i  II  II  ^  ^III  ti 
.V  U  El -^I  IS  im  IK  ^I  V  SSI -<:::^ItT 
,1  £1  :s:  sil   I   UlEf   IK  ^\   -<tiltl  A  I  -^ 

,t-  j£^  :^  <i-m  -V  <  m  IK  ^'i  <  I-  !=nii- 

.,  V    S^I     A4f    >    El<I      EE  \}t\     X^\  ^11  111 

„  <  ^iti  Etii  IK  ^i  E^n  -f  t^M  -iiiiiiii 

AT     > <T      <T.-T    "-"-TT   T      ^»-TI    TSSaSSSSS^M^SMS^ 

sii  EH  '3^  SP8  :=$  +  ::^mmmmm 
jniti  <t:<M  V  iK^n  Kiiiiiiiiiii 

,,^  -^  Ml  ^  I  -^^iti  -^  ^  :?^  ^I  nil 
„IU  V  I  -Mil  ^?^^  S:  Tl  I  S?=I  s?=ltl  ^HA II II 
„  I  «PitIt!  R^^  ::^II  II I V  I  -=:f ^M  -^  ^  s^  ^I  EM 


42 


T7i€  Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art. 


18 


19 


,,  <  ;^  yn  I  -^!  ^v  If ;  V  I  -+  <sM  -T 

,n    I  SI  ^^  ^^El   V  ^^f  <TgT    2<i;    EI! 

,^I    <  T  «^EE     -^    <  HI  "^EE     I  -Pl^M  MMMI 


f-^- 


84 


LEFT  S/DE. 


as 


26 


-  n  V  :^  V  ^-  -  <:  EH  7^ 
:fF4  V  I  -^l  ^ 


Tablet  of  a  dar'-  «mbpr  color  shading  to  black,  ihx  2?i  Inches.  The  signs  are  weD  made,  ond 
jcver  the  entire  sunace  of  the  tablet.  Both  forners  of  the  right  side  are  broken  ofT.  renderliig 
lines  1, 10-16.  22.  and  m  imompieie.  This  tablet  undonbtwily  ttelougs  to  the  n*ign  of  Nabuua'id.  im 
the  break  in  line  28.  though  large  In  extent  in  the  above  text,  will  admit  of  but  one  sign  on  the 
tablet. 


Tranditeraiion. 

1  1/2  ma-oa  6  (u  kaspi  fia  Itti-Marduk- 

-bala^u 

2  apal-6u  6a  Nab^-a^i-iddin  apal    1-gi- 

bi 

3  ina  Hi  Na-din  apal-iu  Sa  Nirgal-t^r 

4  apal  Ba-bu-tu  u  Nu-ub-ta-a  afifiat-fia 

5  marat-su  Sa  Nab(i-mu-Si-ni-ud-da 

6  apal  t-sag-gil-ai  ina  lib-bi 

7  &a  1  /3  ma-na  6  tu  kaspi  &&  ar^a  ina 

Ui 

8  1  ma-ni-i  1  {u  kaspi  ina  Ui-Su-nu 


Trantlalion. 

1  3  a  niana,  6  shekel.*  of  money,   which  Tt- 

tiinardiik. . .  .bulatu, 

2  the  Bon  of  Xab^hiddin,  the  son  of  K;ri- 

bi, 

3  is  to  recpfTP  from  Nadin,    the  son    of 

NtTfrah'ler, 

4  the  son  of  Babutu  and  NflbtA,  bis  wife, 

5  the  danghtJT  of  Nubitniusheniudda, 

6  the  son  of  Esaggiiai.  Thereupon 

7  X  mana,  6  shekels  of  money  every  mouth 

at  the  rate  of 

8  I  upon  1  maiia  1  shekel  of  money,  against 

them 


Tldrteentli    Year  vf  Naborddns. 


43 


9  i--at-bi  u  1/4  10  ^u  kaspi  u-6ib-u 

10  Sa  blti  6adl  i-di  blt-ia  .... 

11  u  ti-ra  kaspi-ia  niaS-ka-[ni:]    

12  sat-ta  ti-  a-Su  ia-[a-ta(  P  ] 

13  tlt-su-nu  gab-ti  ma§-k[a-nv] 

14  a-di  ill  Sa  kaspi-Su  i-§u-[u]  .... 

15  .imilu    mu-kin-nu     Nabfi-mu-fii-nl-ud- 

[d.] 

16  apal-Su  da  Bil-iir-itni  apal  1-sag-gil-ai 

17  Nabii-garmil  apal-fiu  fia  NatA-mu-Si- 

ni-ud-da 

18  apal  t-sag-gil-ai  Nattl-u  jur-§u  apal-fiu 

da 

19  Ba-la-ta  apal  Mi-si^-ai  Ikl-§a-apla 

20  apal-Sa  §a  A-pak-kal-ia   apal   t-gi-bi 

21  u  amilu     dupsar      Wa-din    apal-§u     sa 

Ni.'gal-iti: 

22  apal  Ba-bu-tu       Babilu  arah  NIsannu 

23  Gmu  14  kam  Sattu  13  kam  Natvi-na'id 

24  kax         Babili 

25  ina  a-sa-bi  h&  Bil-lit-su-nu 
23  ununu  ha.  Na-din 


5)  are  to  incroasp,    and    )i  (on  every.  10 
shekels  of  money  they  are  to  pluee 

10  in  the  house    to  the  east    liand  of  my 

hou.se, 

11  and  tUey  are  to  return  my  money.  The 

security 
13  they  took,  they  are  to  return  it  to  me(?). 
1.1  '!  heir  whole  house  is  security, 
U  until  that  his  money  is  (paid). 
1.^  \'.  itnesses:  Xaln'unusheniudda, 

IC  tlie  son  of  J?elziril)nl,   the  son  of  Esag- 
ffiliii ; 

17  Xabujramil,  the  son  of  Nabftmtisheniud- 

da, 

18  the  son  of  Esaggilai ;  Xabusurshu,   the 

son  of 

19  Kalatu,  the  son  of  Misirai ;  Ikishapla, 

20  the  son  of  Appakkalia,  th(!.son  of    Egi- 

bi; 

21  and  the  scribe  Nadin,  the  son  of  Nergal- 

eter, 

22  the  son  of  Eabutu.     Babylon,  in  the 

month  Nisan, 

23  on  the  14  th  day,   in  the  13  th  year  of 

Nabuna'id, 

24  King  of  Habylon. 

25  Fn  the  presence  of  Eellitsunu, 
20  the  mother  of  Xadin. 


NOTES. 

1.  There  is  a  break  at  the  end  of  the  line.  Itti-marduk-balatu,  however  is  a  complete 
and  common  name.  (See  inde.x:  to  proper  names.)  'I  here  might  have  been  some  flaw  in 
the  clay  of  the  tablet  when  the  scribe  wrote  it,  and  this  may  have  led  him  to  pass 
over  the  small  space.  If  this  be  so,  the  name  is  complete.  —  6.  t-sag-gil-ai.  (Cf.  also 
IG,  1.  10,  and  note.)  It  is  a  question  whether  these  names  ending  in  u\  are  adjective  forms 
or  have  passed  over  and  become  ordinary  proper  names.  I  should  be  incdined  to  the  lat- 
ter view.  We  have  a  good  parallel  in  the  proper  names  of  slaves  among  the  Romans. 
"Syrus,  Medus"  at  first  meant  "the  Syrian,  the  Mede,"  then  the  terms  became  used  as 
ordinary  names.  In  line  19  we  have  Mi-sir-ai  "the  Egyptian"  also  used  as  a  proper 
Jiame.  Generally,  however,  these  forms  are  family  names,  ina  libbi  6a  "thereupon."  See 
Pciser's  renderings,  Bab,  Ver.  p.  318/>.  — -  'Ihe  real  interest  shall  be  one  shekel  on  every 


44  TTie  Metropolitan  Mv^eum  of  Art. 

mana,  that  is,  \%  percent.  But  to  this  amount  must  be  added  tbe  interest  spoken  of  in 
line  9,  which  is  2K  per  cent,  making  tbe  total  interest  for  every  month  4  1-6  percent, 
ma-ni-i.  See  Tallq.  p.  S6.  —  9.  u-i  b-u.  Strass.,  Xbk,  137,  11,  has  the  form  ui-Sik-u. 
—  11.  12.  ti-ra.  A  peculiar  form  from  taru.  It  is  in  tbe  dual,  agreeing  with  tbe  subject: 
Nadin  and  bis  wife,  aabta  is  in  the  dual  for  the  same  reason.  —  22.  Tbe  first  signs 
show  that  "Nisau"  is  tbe  month  mentioned.  —  25, 20.  Women,  as  a  rule,  were  not  al- 
lowed to  act  as  witnesses.  We  therefore  find  tbe  short  note  simply  to  mention  tbe  fart 
that  Nadin's  mother,  Belitsunu,  was  also  present  at  tbe  signing  of  tbe  cootract,  thus  sig- 
nifying her  assent  to  her  son's  actions. 

Ittimardukbalatu  had  loaned  Nadin  and  his  wife  36  shekels.  These 
were  to  increase  at  the  fixed  rate  of  4  1-6  per  cent,  about  the  usual  per- 
centage for  that  time.  Nadin  and  Nubta  had  evidently  had  some  busi> 
ness  transaction  before  with  Ittimardukbalatu,  for  we  find  a  security 
mentioned  in  line  11;  but,  on  account  of  the  break,  we  are  debarred 
from  learning  of  what  nature  this  security  was.  However,  they  gave 
this  back,  and,  in  addition,  they  gave  their  house  as  security  in  retura 
for  the  money  loaned. 


NO.  27. 

FRONT. 

,  -  <-ttT  4i.  T  -ET  It'  -^T  <T-  T?  I V  T  -TTv-  -TT<T  ^Vi 
,\}   y  ^1  ^i  1^  If   >-   2<i?   -^TT   -  «=ET  4^ 

.m^     -     Ss:^  -ifTI    -El    ElAT  s^?  -^ 

BACK. 


Thirteenth  Year  of  NdhonirlvJt. 


4B 


T-^TT^ITMf   I^IV  Is^^-^in   n   T^-f 


<«1 


T 


►^  <TTT  tEt  I-vItT^I  4iJf  II 


-  t^  v^^^tHEJ 


Tablet,  on  obverse,  of  a  light  brown  color  shading  to  dark  brown ;  on  reverse,  from  dark  brown 
to  almost  black.  The  signs  are  distinct  and  prettily  made.  Size :  l.'a  x  2^.  The  sides  are  free  from 
writing,  excepting  the  right  side,  which  contains  a  few  signs  of  lines  prolonged  from  the  reverse. 


TransUteratum. 

11/2  ma-na  kaspi  6a  Itti-Marduk-bala^u 
apal-du  &a. 

2  Nabfl-ahl-iddin  apal  A-ba-ba-ti-la 

3  ina  ill  La-a-ba-fii  apal-Su  &&  Zi-ri-ia 

4  apal  Na-ba-ai  ina  arafe  Samna  ina-ad- 

din 
6  ki-i  ina  arafe  Samna  la  id-i-nu 

6  k&  a- ha  ina  ili  1  ma-ni-i  1  ^u  kaspi 

7  ina  ili-Su  i-rab-bi 

8  amllu  mu-kin    Ri-mut-Bil    apal-§u  da 

Bil-Marduk 

9  apal  Sa-am-ma-'  Bil-i^ir  apal-$u  ia 

10  Nab<i-Sum-u8ur  apal  Bammanu-8am- 

usar 

11  Su-ka-ai  apal-du  da  Kal-ba^a  apal  Babu- 

u-tu 


Translation. 

1  yi  mana  of  money  which  Ittimarduk- 

balatu,  the  son  of 

2  NabuahiJdin,  the  son  of  Ababatila. 

3  is  to  receive  from  Labashi,  the  son  of 

Ziria, 

4  the  son  of  Naba ;    in  the  month  31ap- 

cbesbwan,  he  will  give  (it). 

5  If  in  the  month   Marcheswan  he  does 

not  give  (it), 

6  every  month  (at  the  rate  of  j  upon  1  ma- 

na 1  shekel  of  money 

7  against  him  it  shall  increase. 

8  Witnesses :    Rimutbel,   the  son  of  Bel- 

marduk, 

9  the  son  of  Shamma'  ;  Beleter,  the  son 

of 

10  Nabilshumusur,  the  son  of  Kammanu- 

shumusiir ; 

11  Siika,  the  son  of  Kalba,  the  son  of  15u- 

bMu; 


46 


The  Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art. 


12  u  amilu  dupsar  Bani-um-ma-gu  mir-ftu 

da  Bil-a^l-iddia-na 

13  apal  ^ir-did-bit         Babilu  ara^  Ululu 

tivan  6  kam 

14  Sattu  13  kam  Nabii-na'id  Sar         Babili 


13  and  the  scribe  Paniummagu,   the  son  of 
Belahiddinna, 

13  the  son  of  Sirdit«bbit.  Babylon,  in  the 

month  Uluhi,  on  tlie  Cth  day, 

14  in  the  13  th  year  ot  Nubuaa'id,  King  of 

Habylon. 


NOTES. 

4.  ina-ad-din.  The  word  spelled  in  this  way  oc<uirs  also  in  Strass.  N'abn.  282,  7.  — 
G.  Kate  of  interest  for  every  month  \%  per  cent,  or  for  the  year  20  per  cent.  —  8.  mu- 
kin.  The  fin. il  nu  might  have  been  omitted  by  the  scribe  by  mistake.  'Ihefonn.  how- 
ever, occurs  again  in  Strass.  Nabn.  IfiS,  5;  Pelser,  Hab.  Ver.  CXLN'II,  10.  —  iti-am- 
ma-'.  A  shortened  form  for  dama-Uu  (Strass.,  Verzeich.  zii  den  Liverpool  luM^h.  p.  00.) 
—    14.  Dated  in  the  year  542  B.  C,  as  the  preceding  tablet. 

Ittimardukbalatu  has  loaned  Labashi  half  of  a  mana,  and  haR  made 
an  agreement  with  him  that  the  money  is  to  be  returned  during  the 
month  Marcheshwan.  Until  that  time  the  money  shall  bear  no  interest. 
But,  if  payment  is  not  made  during  tliat  month,  then  interest  at  20  jn-r 
eent  a  year  will  accrue  against  him.  Hence  the  money  i.s  really  loaned 
for  an  indefiuite  period  of  years. 

NO.  SJ8. 

FRONT. 

.15-  ^T  -A-<  ^  t^E  ^]  -m  ti^  Tt  -^I  -C-  i5^v 


Fourteenth  Year  of  Nahonldus. 


47 


<  < 


.1^   T:^?-ITA:r^   eT  tDtT 

BACK. 

<  ^  yn  T  -^  -^I  -HIT!  A  t^IT  -+  <^^] 
.JU  V  T  ^^V]  At  T?  ^  SF  -T  -TTA  -^T 
..V  fef  <m   2s:?  :e]&   ^I  <T  «=^ 


12 


13 


16 


» 


t^  V  '<^}  <m 


Tablet  of  a  dark  (/ray  color,  lMxl>^  Inches.  The  writing  Is  very  much  effaced;  in  fact,  the 
tablet  is  ^adually  crumbling  to  pieces.  The  left  side,  as  In  most  of  these  tablets,  is  not  written 
upon.  The  above  reading  is  the  best  possible. 


JVansliteration. 

1  8  ta  kaspi  i-ti-ru  Sa 

2  Ka-ti-lu-tum  i-tir-tum  a-na  Amtu 

3  marat-su  ka.  Marduk-dum-u^ur  Sa-a&- 

Bil-ti 


Translation. 

1  8  shekels  of  money,  the  pay  which 

2  Katilutum  paid  to  Amtu, 

3  the     daughter    of    Marduksbumusur ; 

Shashbelti, 


48 


The  Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art. 


4  apal-&u  fta  Nafcfl-itti-aDli  apal  Hu-pu- 

u  illmu 

5  ina  ^ata    Itti-Marduk-bala(u  apal-du 

6a  Natd-a^l-iddin 

6  apal  t-g^i-bi  ma-^ir 

7  i-pu-u6-Sa  duppa  fia  KI.LtT  libittu  gi- 

nu-u  u  gi&immaru 

8  a-di  u.an.tim  &a  Nab<i-a^l-iddin 

9  it-ti  a-fea-mifi  ul  bal-tu-u 

10  amilu  mu-kin-nu  Iddin-Marduk  apal- 

6u  6a 

11  I-ki-6a-apla  apal  Ndr-Sin 

12  Nabfl-iddin  apal-&u  &a  Bil-idauin  apal 

amilu  nl-fur-gi-na 

13  u  "inilii  dupsar    IddiD-na-^u-nun-(!-iA- 

Marduk 

14  apal-du   &a  Nabfl-najir  apal    nmllu  ni- 

fur-gi-na 

15  Babilu  ara^  Nisannu  dmu  14  kam 

16  Aattu  14  kam  NabCl-na'id 

17  6ar         Babili 


4  the  m>u  of  Nab&ittiapli,  tbeinm  of  Hu- 

))U,  (hi«)  price 

5  from   the  hand)*  of   Ittimtirduklmlatii, 

the  Hon  of  Nubibihiddin, 

6  the  son  of  Egibi,  received. 

7  They  made  a  tablet  concerning , 

bricks,  offerings,  and  date  palms, 

8  together  with  a  receipt  for  Nabftabtd- 

din. 

9  Witli   one  another  not  will  they  live. 

10  Witne«M:  Iddinnurduk,  the  Hon  of 

11  TlvNhApla,  the  son  of  XAmin; 

12  Xahiiiddin,  the  Min   of   Helidanin,  tlie 

Kon  of  the man ; 

1.^  and   tlie  M-ribe   IddinnuhununtiHhmur- 

diik, 
14  the  Hon  of  Nabiinanir,    the  non  of   the 

man. 

\U  lUibylon,    in  the  montli  Ninan,   on  the 

14th  day, 
in   in  the  14  th  year  of  Nabiiua'id, 
17  King  of  Babylon. 


NOTES. 


1.  i-$'.--u  must  be  a  substantive  here,  as  the  sense  and  every  like  construction  demand. 
—  2.  i-tir-tum,  from  the  sjime  root  as  tlie  preceding,  though  a  change  in  the  first  vowel 
has  occurred.  This  form  is  also  found  in  Strass.  Nahn.  6  0,  17 ;  720,  15 ;  Peiser,  Kab. 
Ver.  XLIII,  17  ;  I^XXl,  7.  —  Sa-aS-Bil-Ji :  we  would  expect  8i-BA-BU-i(.  'I  he  last  sign, 
however,  is  indiHtinct  on  the  tablet.  -^  4.  Natii-itti-apli :  ''May  Xebo  be  with  the 
sons."  —  7.  i-pu-i:6-6a  is  in  form  the  3rd  person  plural  feminine  of  the  preterite.  Kut 
there  is  no  reason  why  the  feminine  should  be  used.  I  would  again,  as  in  11,6,  regard  it  as 
a  mistake  that  has  crept  into  this  the  colloquial  language  of  Babylon.  It  will  be  seen  at 
the  first  glance  how  much  the  different  cases  are  coufoimded,  especially  in  the  contract 
tablets.  The  Babylonian  at  this  stage  resembles  the  Middle  Arabic,  where  the  pronunci- 
ation of  the  final  vowels  w  iis  often  kept,  but  where,  in  four  cases  out  of  five,  the  wrong 
ending  was  used,  leading,  in  the  end,  to  the  dropping  of  all  final  vowels.  KI.LU  may 
perhaps  be  an  ideogram  for  yiau  "sheep.'*  gi-nu-u  is  taken  by  Tallqvist  (p.  62)  to  mean 
"sacrifices,  offerings."  Peiser  (Bab.  Ver.  pp.  258  and  289)  takes  it  a«  e<iuivalent  to  alpi 
•'cattle."  See  also  Jercmias,  B.  A.  I.  p.  279.  —  9.  bal-tu-u  :  from  balatu.  As  the  \  and 
the  t  were  almost  identical  in  pronunciation,  the  scribe  evidently  did  not  make  the  dis- 
tinction in  this  case.    Tallqvist,  on  page  57  of  his  valuable  little  book,   gives  a  word 


Fovrtcndh    Year  of  Kahouldus.  49 


bal&tu  '*fiiln»'ss,  blcssin;;,""    Imt  this  iu(>iinin;Lr  evldt'iitly  (I(M's  not    fit  into  tliis  ))as!4ii;r(>. 

12.  "nillu  ni-8ur-gi-na    may  incan    "tlio  muii    whti  ;;iiiirds  the   sjuTificial    offcrinj; ;" 

from  na^aru  "to  protect"  and  ginft  in  lino  7.  1I«'  vvoulil  thus  be  an  nttiu-he  of  tlw 
temple.  —  155.  'I  he  sij^ns  ^u  and  nun  are  euriout'ly  blended  f ojfether.  —  1(J.  Dated 
in  the  year  541  1».  C. 

Tlu'  I'xplanation  of  this  text  is  easy.  Katihittim  and  hor  hiisl»an<l  Ttti- 
iii.-inhikhalatu  cletennino  to  j)art  with  their  servants  Anitii  and  Shasli- 
l)i'lti.  The  latter,  I  wotihi  eoiiclude,  are  a  married  eoii})le.  Eight  siiekels 
are  the  wages  of  Amtu,  and  a  similar  amount,  doubtlessly  given  on  an- 
other tablet,  came  into  the  hamls  of  Shashhelti.  These  four  set  u|)  a 
tablet,  giving  the  amount  of  work  performed;  and  they  add  to  this  the 
reeeipt  of  Nabuahiddin,  the  father  of  Ittimardnkbalatn,  who  therefore 
seems  to  have  been  the  controlling  power  in  the  affairs  of  the  two  re- 
spective couples.  Tliis  last  receipt  acted  as  a  final  document  concerning 
their  mutual  relations;  that  is,  it  signified  that  the  work  had  been  prop- 
erly performed,  and  that  Ittimardukbalatu  and  his  wife  had  to  be  satis- 
fied and  now  had  no  claims  against  the  servants.  Finally,  in  line  9,  we 
come  to  the  quaint  sentence:  With  one  another  they  will  7iot  live.  This 
shows  that  the  rupture  between  the  two  couples  is  complete:  they  want 
to  have  nothing  more  to  do  with  each  other. 


NO.  29. 

FRONT. 

.t-  V  --f  -^T  If     :^  ^T  t^:  t-  ^T  t^t 

. -  .im  I  Mil -^  !U  V  i::ETE^E^!f  If  K^I^ 
.  If  -^l  ff<  ^l  E^  ly    M  <l-:f J  ^  -ll<I  t^iiil 

,it  S^  V  :::<£   ^:^  It.  ^yy  v  I-vI  "^11   If 


50 


The  Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art. 


,<T"^II-^  TH  VT^TBf:?? !?  T i5- -TT<T r^ t<E 
.T^  -^I  T  ^TET  -+  «^T  ^  E!4iT  ^t}  >&  <T-:f! 

,,  V  ET<!  e:^  T  T  T  "^Tt!::T  -V  :eTT  S:J  Tf  I  V 
,.T  ^  W  T?  T  iT-  fl<T  t^  c^E  ETAT  ^T< 
„  I  ^lEl  -«f  <:=;^T  <^  SP  :?:I  :eTT  e  ^Ttt  ^.!  «= 
,.1^  V  -4  -^T  W  <  i:-  HI  t^:  ^^-  ^T  r::^  Tf  -^T 
.  <T-  E!4i!  t-E  <M^  \M  ES^T  IIJ  n  -^T  }}<  ^T 
«  <E|:^  EE  -I<T1^  5ItT  9^  «  V  --f  -^TTH  t:-  -^  t^E 
,.  I  ^ET  --f  <:=5^T  -^^  <:eT  ee  ^}W  Xt^  V  -!!<T  A  -T- 

„  -t-  s^  V  t^E  ^^-  ^T  <-  V  -f  -^T !?  <^-n 
:<-  m  t\--  tr  ^I  s=^E    -^T  V  I?  :::^E 

« I?  T  it}  -f  <R  :=^  I  £^T  V?  in  V  I  ^TET  iillllBli 
« T?  ^ :??!  T  -^  MtW  TU  V  T  :s:  n  I?  HlHl 


Fourteenth    Year  of  Nabfmldus, 


61 


LEFT  SIDE. 


80 


«^i^  V  ^^]  m 


Tablet  of  a  dark  gray  color.  VA  x  2'b  Inches.  The  signs  are  very  lightly  made  and  closely  wrlt- 
tt-n.  In  fact,  the  whole  tablet  Is  one  conglomeration  of  signs,  there  being  no  space  anywhere 
left  unused.  The  scribe  evidently  sought  to  crowd  as  much  as  possible  on  the  small  piece  of  clay. 
On  the  right  side.  In  some  places,  very  little  can  be  distinguished,  as  the  signs  are  almost  com- 
pletely rubbed  off.  There  Is,  however,  but  one  break  on  the  tablet,  and  this  Is  In  line  18.  where 
the  determinative  for  woman  Is  broken  out.  The  other  lacuna  are  caused  by  the  rubbing  off  of 
the  signs.  The  fact,  that  the  scrlke  .sought  to  crowd  so  long  a  t«xt  on  so  little  space,  accounts  for 
the  omission  of  manj-  of  the  signs  that  must  be  supplied  In  order  to  make  sense. 


Tranaliteraiion.  , 

1  §a-au-na-a  Ku-ap-pu-ut-tum 

2  u    Tab-lu-tu      a-mi-lut-tum     §a    Itti- 

Marduk-balatu 

3  apal-6a  §a  Nabvi-ahl-iddin  apal  t-gi-bi 

4  ina  kata   Bil-iddin  apal-du  da  Ba-ni-ia 

apal  Nirgal-usur 

5  a-na  kaspi  i-pu-§u  u  Ri-Sar-[tum] 

3  Ni-lat-tum  marat-su  Sa  Arad-Bil  apal 
Ikti-[Marduk(  P  ] 

7  u  BU-iddin  apal-§u  §a  Ba-ni-ia  apal  Ri- 

Sar-tum 

8  kaspa  Sima  pi-§a-an-na  u  Ku-up-pu-ut- 

tum 

9  a^na  Itti-Marduk-balatu  id-di-nu  u 
10  Tab-lu-tu  marat-su  Sa-an-na-a 


Translation. 

1  Shanna,  Kupputtum, 

2  and  Tablutu,  the  slaves  which  Ittimar 

dukbalatii, 

3  the  son  of  Nabftahiddin,  the  son  of  Egi- 

bi, 

4  from  the  hands  of  Beliddin,   the  son  of 

Rania,  the  son  of  Nergalusur, 
r>  for  money  received.     And  Rishartiim 
(and) 

6  >«ilattum,  the  daughter  of  Aradbel,  the 

son  of  Ikblmarduk, 

7  and  Beliddui,  the  son  of  Baniu,  the  son 

of  Rishartum, 

8  for  money,  an  equal  price,  and  KApput- 

tum 

9  to  Ittiniardukbalatu  gave ;  also 
10  Tablutu,  the  daughter  of  ShjlnnSs 


52 


Tlte  Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art. 


11  a-di-i    kaspi-du    id-din    Itti-Marduk- 

balatu 

12  u-mafi-Si-ru  adi  Hi  nar[a4-ut-tu] 

13  da-ta-ra  6a  Naba-balaf-su-i^bi  apal-iu 

da 

14  Bani-ia  apal  Bi-Aar-tum  i(-bal 

15  Itti-Marduk-bala^u  ni-si-su  i-kat-lul 

16  &aran-nar-a  u  Ku-up-pu-ut-tum  a-na 

17  6i-dartum  ul  i-iar-ra^ku  ama  kaapi 

18  ul  i-nam-di-nu  &a-an-na-a  u  [Ri]-§ar- 

tum 

19  Itti-marduk-bala(u  ki-i  u-tir  i»  ri-^i-ti 

20  BU-iddia  u  Ni-lat-tum  uinmi>iu  it-ta- 

din 

21  Ni-lat-tum  pu-ut  daran-na-a  u 

23  Ku-ui)-pu-ut-tuin  na-6a-a-tum 

23  ainllu  mu-kia-nu  BU-di-^ir  apal-du  ia 


24  apal  Nab-i^-bi  Ardi-ia  apal-Au  &a  Itti- 


25  apal  »">'>"  dakanu  Iddin-NabCl  apal-6u 

6a  9al-a  apal 

26  Itti-Nab<i-bala(u  »i»ilu  dupaar  apal-6a 

6a  Marduk-iddin 

27  apal  Bil-i-ti-ni 

28  Babilu  ara^  Nisannu  (iinu  20  kam 

29  6attu  14  kam  Nabd-na'id 

30  6ar         Babili 


11  tojrethor  witli  his  money  <  tliat  •  h»-  gav«', 

Itti  miirdu  k  balat  u 

12  left  l»ehind,  until  the  biddin^^ 

13  in  writing;  of  Nabubuluti<uikbi,  the  M>n 

of 

14  Bania,  tlie  xon  of  Kisliartum,   Itf  \\ill 

bring. 

15  Ittimurdukbulatii  his  bidding  hu-  fiil- 

fillod. 
IC  Shanna  and  K&pp&ttum  for 
IT  a  prcitent  not  will  he  prei«ent  (or)  for 

money 

18  not  will  he  iiell.  Sb&nmi  and  Kixhurtun) 

19  Tttimardukbalatu,     when     be    return* 

what  renutinder  (there  in), 
'JO  (Ui)  Keliddin  and  Nihittum,  \\ii  mother, 
he  will  give. 

21  Nilaltum  the  receipt  (concerning  >  Shtiii- 

nA  and 

22  Kupputtum  will  bring. 

2y  Witnowes:   ISeldihir,  the  i»on  of , 

24  the  son  of  Nahikbi ;  Ardia,  the  >(>ii  of 

Ittl , 

25  the  Hon  of  the  overseer:  Iddinnabu,  the 

son  of  Sula,  the  Mon  of ; 

28  Ittinabiibulatu,  the  Mrribe,    the  M>n  of 
Mardukiddin, 

27  the  son  of  Beleteru. 

28  Pabylon,   in  the  month  Nisan,    on  tlic 

20tbday, 
'Z^  in  the  14  th  year  of  Nabuna'id, 
30  King  of  Ikibylon. 


NOTES. 

1.  a-ml-lut-tum  and  gallu  are  used  interchangeably.  —  4.  The  determinative  Hu  "god" 
is  omitted  before  Nirgal.  —  5.  The  space  in  the  word  i-pu — 6u  denote*  an  era-suiv  by 
the  seribe  on  the  tablet.  "And"  must  be  "supplied  at  the  end  of  the  line,  as  Hi6artum 
and  Nilattum  were  two  different  women.  —  8.  pi-6a-an-Da-a  "equal;"  compare  the 
Hebrew  DDS  "to  divide,"  hence  "to  divide  into  equal  ijurts,"  then,  "equal."  pi-da-an- 
na in  Strass.  Xabu.  186,  5;  213,  2  ;  1029,  7  is  undoubtedly  the  same  word.  —  11.  Notiee 


Fmirteeidh   Year  of  Nahonidus.  63 

li<»\v  pecuJUirly  id-din  is  written.  'Ihe  horizontal  wedge  lias  the  value  of  nad&nu,  and 
the  three  slanting  wedges  must  here  be  taken  as  the  phonetic  complement  din :  giving 
us  iis  the  complete  word  the  form  iddin.  —  1">.  Sa-^a-ra  I  would  take  here  a^  <«n  ad- 
vi'rhiiil  accusative,  or  as  an  uccusitive  of  specification.  Compare  "Ittw  and  Ixm.  — ■ 
14.  i^bal.  Iftcal  of  abalu.  —  lii.  ni-si-su.  Perhaps  this  might  be  a  secondary  form  of 
nadfltu  "bidding"  from  nadd.  That  the  &  should  go  over  into  s  would  not  be  a  strange 
thing  in  colloquial  language.  However,  I  ofter  this  only  as  a  suggestion.  —  17.  &i-da- 
tum  i  woidd  connect  with  SidCl -'tribute,"  cf.  Sanh.  II,  5,'>.  It  fits  especially  well  with 
i-Sar-ra-ku,  from  Saraku  "to  give,  present,"  though  the  former  is  spelled  with  k  and 
the  latter  with  ^.  —  18.  Bi-6ar-tum.  Ri  Is  omitted  by  the  scribe  by  mistake :  also 
the  two  combined  vertical  wedges  at  the  end  of  the  sign  tir  in  line  19.  —  20.  ana  invsr 
be  supplied  at  the  beginningof  this  line.  —  24.  Nab-ik-bi,  a  contracted  form  of  Nal  tl- 
Hfbi.  It  is  strange  that  the  scribe  has  not  recognized  this  and  written  the  god's  name 
with  tlie  determinative.  I  consider  this  a  good  exjimple  of  how  the  Assyrian  proper 
names  were  read.  I  believe  that  Nabft  In  proper  names  was  read  as  it  is  here,  and  not,  as 
in  other  cases,  we  are  accustomed  to  tnmscribe  it.  I?ut  as  Assyrian  is  a  written  and  not  a 
sjioken  language  for  us,  we  must  transcribe  the  signs  as  they  stand.  —  28.  The  vSua. 
s'lrn  din  is  omitted  before  Babilu.  —  29.  Dated  in  the  year  541  B.  C,  as  the  preceding 
tablet. 


The  sense  of  the  tablet  is  briefly  the  following.  Ittiraardiikbalatu  has 
been  commissioned  by  Nabubalatsuikbi  to  acquire  foi  aim  the  three  fe- 
male slaves  Shanna,  Kupputtura,  and  Tablutu.  Rishartum  and  Nilattum 
and  Beliddin,  who  seem  to  have  had  some  interest  in  the  slave  Knpput- 
tiim,  hereby  signify  their  assent  to  the  sale.  But  Ittimardukbalatu  is 
fii-st  required  to  show  on  what  authority  he  purchases  the  slaves.  He 
therefore  leaves  Tablutu  and  Shanna  behind  him  as  security,  and  depos- 
its the  money  in  order  to  bind  the  bargain,  and  goes  to  obtain  a  tablet 
from  Nabubalatsuikbi,  giving  him  authority  to  purchase  the  slaves. 
Probably  Ittimardukbalatu  was  no  ruspousible  person,  hence  this  de- 
mand was  made.  He  is  also  required  by  the  sellers  neither  to  present  the 
slaves  to  anybody,  nor  to  sell  them.  The  latter  seem  to  have  had  a 
kind  heart,  for  this  condition  was  made,  evidently,  in  order  to  protect 
the  slaves  from  ever  obtaining  an  unkind  and  cruel  master.  Ittimarduk- 
balatu, when  he  returns  the  "change"  to  his  employer,  will  finally  hand 
over  the  purchase  money  to  Beliddin  and  his  mother,  and  will  receive 
from  the  latter  a  receipt  for  two  of  the  slaves.  About  the  final  disposal 
of  the  third  slave,  the  want  of  room  prevented  the  scribe  from  giving 
us  any  information.  We  are  therefore  compelled  to  wait  for  another 
tablet  on  this  sul  ject. 


54 


The  Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art. 


NO.  30. 

FRONT. 

,v  T"^f  :f:n^  in  V  T  'Mil  ET  V 

.1^  ^  ^jn  --f  ^T  ^T  T  MtM  t^E 
JU  V  -W-  -El  If  T?  I  «  ^T«=T  5M 
AVn  I  -III  9^  TH  V  I  -^11  ET  V 
.n  ^  ^OII  -+  -^I  ^I  -  JTtt 
,t5-     «=III!«=  ■:::^M    5^    CU    es:    v 

sET   A   5w      J?:?    V 

.Uff   CM   H<^T  -   <-II<!!     ^!1MI 

,.If  I  V  T  ttT  -ET  TMf  T  :?:  <«  -f 
„+  ^ET  ^M  ^!-  TM  V  T  ^Ttl  -^T  Vi 

uin  V  T  -W-  -ET  If  !M  «  ^W  ^M 
,» V  ^M  <!EI    Sif  ^t= 


.:  T  ►^tlt!  ^ 


t^   V  ^^:^f  <IEI 


Fourteenth   Year  of  Nahonidus. 


65 


Tablet  of  a  light  maroon  color.  \u  x  \%  Inches.  The  signs  are  blurred  and  difficult  to  decipher. 
The  left  side  Is  not  inscrllwd.  In  the  first  line  or  the  reverse  there  Is  a  large  hole,  which  destroys 
the  lower  part  (the  vertical  vf  edge)  of  the  sign  tar. 


Transliteration. 

1  10  fu  kaspi  na-ad-ut-ti 

2  §a  N^r-l-a  apal-Su  fia  Bll-ikl-Sa 

3  apal  "milu  Sangu  i'"  Na-na  Nabfl-iriS 

4  apal-Su  Sa  l^il-la-a  apal  Man-di-di 
6  u  Bll-fiu-nu  apal-Su  Sa  Bll-ikl-fia 

6  apal  aniil"  Sangu  ••"  Na-na  ina  ijata 

7  U-ka-ga-tu-ra-fiad 

8  ma-hi-ir  i-lat 

9  1/3  4  \u  kaspi  ina  gim-ru 


10  amllu  mu-kin-nu  '1»  Dainu-zir-ibni 

11  apal-Su  Sa  Ab-la-a  apal  tpl-iS-ilu 

12  La-di-pi  apal-Su  Sa  Di-na-a 

13  u  amtlu  dupsar  Nabft-iriS 

14  apal-Su  Sa  §il-la-a  apal  Man-di-di 

15  Babilu  arab  Simanu 

16  iimxi  18  kam  Sattu  14  kam 

17  NabO.-na'id  Sar        Babili 


TVanslatuyn. 

1  10  shekels    of  money,  the  ))idding 

2  of  Xun-a,  the  son  of  Belikisha, 

3  the  son  of  the  priest  of  Nana ;  Nabiieresh, 

4  tlw  son  of  Sillii,  the  son  of  Mandidi ; 

5  and  Belshumi,  the  son  of  Belikisha, 

0  the  son  of  the  priest  of  Nana,   from  the 
hands  of 

7  Ukagaturashad 

8  have  received  ;  in  addition 

9  i}4  shekels  of  money  in  vegetables  (she 

paid  ?  ). 

10  Witnesses :  Dainiiziribni, 

11  the  son  of  Abh\,  the  son  of  Epeshihi ; 

12  Ladipi,  the  son  of  Dina, 

13  and  the  scribe  Nabueresh, 

14  the  son  of  Silla,  the  son  of  Mandidi. 

15  Babylon,  in  the  mouth  Siraan, 

IG  on  the  18  th  day,in  the  14  th  year  of 
17  Xa])una'id,  King  of  Babylon. 


NOTES. 

8.  ma-fei-ir  is  the  singular;  we  would  expect  the  phiral.  i-lat :  see  note  to  13,  11.  — - 
9.  gim-ru  :  see  Tallqvist  p.  CI.  The  latter  takes  it  to  be  the  uam(!  of  some  produce  men- 
tioned together  with  grain  and  vegetables.  —  10.  Hu  Dalnu-zir-ibni.  The  fourth  sign 
of  the  name  is  tar ;  in  Briinnow's  Cla'ssified  List  (No.  9541)  the  reading  is  not  given.  The 
above  Is  only  tentative.  —  12.  The  first  sign  is  evidently  a  mistake  on  the  part  of  the 
scribe.  The  sense  requires  that  only  the  vertical  wedge  should  stand  here.  The  wedge 
crossing  it  is  out  of  place.  The  family  name  of  the  last  witness  is  omitted.  —  16.  Dated 
in  the  year  541  B.  C,  as  the  two  preceding  tablets. 


Ukagaturashad  had  embarked  in  the  grocery  business.  She  had  re- 
ceived a  commission  from  Nurea,  Nabutum,  and  Belshunu  to  furnish  10 
shekels  worth  of  groceries  as  well  as  4  J  shekels  worth  of  vegetables.  She 
acquitted  herself  of  this  commission,  and  obtained  this  tablet  as  a  re- 
ceipt. 


66  The  Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art. 

NO.  31. 

FJtONT. 

-+  <:=5^T  111 
JU  V I  ^tltlJ^  !<«  ►^  TH  stH  :=^  <  T  s,:?  H 

,EIAT  5*:^!  ^   -Til  SfJT  1?  -+    V  :eI<I  <iI 

HACK. 

n  T?  T  ^11  ^\  -II:  -cTT  S^T  «=£^  :^?  <IiJ 

T  ^cTtT  EE  «=£^  >  '<;^}  <m 


Tablet  of  a  light  fawn  color,  13<  x  2  Inches.  The  signs  are  very  small  and.  In  some  places.  Indis- 
tinctly made.  The  writing  Is  divided  Into  three  parts :  First,  the  obverse,  giving  the  subject  mat- 


Sixteenth  Year  of  Nabonidus. 


57 


ter  of  the  tablet,  with  a  large  space  below,  which  extends  to  the  top  of  the  reverse.  S<'con(lly, 
one  and  oue-third  Hues  ou  the  upper  part  of  the  roverse,  which  contain  the  nanie  and  parent^ige 
of  but  one  witness.  Below  this  there  Is  again  a  large  space.  Finally,  four  lines  containing  the 
name  of  the  scrll)e  and  the  date.  This  careful  division  of  the  text  shows  that  the  scribe  must 
have  been  a  painstaking  man. 

None  of  the  sides  Is  written  upon.    The  right  hand  upper  corner  of  the  obverse  Is  broken  off, 
otherwise  the  tablet  would  be  complete. 


Transliteration. 

1  u.an.tim    fia    i-piS-fia    duppu  fia  Itti- 

Marduk-[balaf :  1 

2  apal-du  ia  Nabfk-e^i-iddin  apal  t-gi-bi 

u  [Kal-ba-a] 

3  apal-6u  fia  Nabd-a^i-iddiii  apal  t-gi-bi 

i-pu-5u 

4  Kal-ba-a  fiatta  ill  10  (u  kaspi  a-na 

5  Itti-Msjduk-balatu  ul-ti-la  u  4  1/2  fu 

kaspi 

6  ri-h-tum  Kal-ba-a  a-na  Itti-Marduk- 

bala^u 

7  it-ta-din    iSti-in  ta.a.an   Sa-^a-ni  il-ti- 

ku-u 

8  amihi  mu-kin-nu  Iddin-Nabfl  apal-du  Sa 

Iki-da-apla 
O  apal  Bil-ibni 

10  Itti-Nabii-balatu  amiln  dupsar  apal-du 

fia  Marduk-ban-zir 

11  apal  BU-itir  aid  Bit^fiar-i  irsitu 

12  ara^  Diizu  {imu  23  kam  fiattu  16  kam 

13  Nabfl-na'id  fiar  m^t  Babili 


Tranfilaliim. 

1  The  receipt  which  i«  made  out  f  namely) 

the  tablet,  which  Ittimardiikbalatu, 

2  the  son   of    Nabuahiddin,    the  son    of 

Egibi,  and  Kalba, 

3  the  son  of  NabAahiddin,  the  son  of  Kgi- 

bi,  made. 

4  Kalba  every  year  about  10  shekels  of 

money  to 

5  Ittimardukbalatii  will  pay,  and  4>^  shek- 

els of  money, 

6  the  remainder,   KaIV>a  unto  Ittimarduk- 

balatu 

7  will  give.  One  document  they  took. 

8  Witness:  Iddinnubu,  the  son  of  Ikishap- 

la, 

9  the  son  of  Belibnf. 

10  Tttinabfibalatu,  the  scribe,  the  son  of 

Mardukbanzir, 

11  the  son  of  Beleter.  In  the  city  Bitshare, 

12  in  the  month  Dvizu,  on  the  23  rd  day,  in 

the  16  th  year  of 

13  Nabtlna'id,  King  of  Babylon. 


NOTES. 


4.  Satta.  Note  the  insertion  of  an  a  between  the  signs  an  and  na.  All  four  signs  must 
be  read  as  au  ideogram.  —  5.  ul-ti-la  for  ufitila  :  Ifteal  of  ilu,  —  7.  il-ti-ku-u  :  Ifteai 
of  liku.  —  8.  As  a  general  rule  two  or  more  witnesses  were  required  for  every  legal 
action  ;  here  only  one  is  mentioned.  The  scribe,  however,  can  be  considered  the  second. 
—  12.  Dated  in  the  year  539  B.  C. 


68  The  Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art. 


Two  brothers,  Kalba  and  Ittiraardukbalatii,  enter  into  an  agreement 
concerning  the  disposal  of  certain  funds,  perhaps  left  to  them  by  their 
deceased  father.  Kalba  seems  to  possess  a  generous  heart,  for  he  prom- 
ises his  brother  a  yearly  support  of  10  shekels,  besides  giving  him  the 
remainder  left  over  from  the  money  inherited  from  his  father. 


PART  II. 


NO.  1. 

VB  VKRHE. 

,  T  ►+  «^T  4f ^'  I  s^^  T?  ►^K  -f  H-V  :5??^  !? 

,  T  ^tTtT  fl^'  T?  4V  t£  11!  I?  ->T  T  E!  -^ 

;MT  ^  AT? 
,  I?  ^u  .^  ^1  tt  ^  Sif  ^  t^  -T<!i!  •^  ^  "f  11 

^5^  ^I  f  ^^  t:?  ^^  :eI  cH? 

^       If 

:  -  WT  3T!  I  -Mil  ^  S^I  £*.  -^  illill  IT  w 
J  EE  -^  «^I  ^  fell!  >-%\  ti  IHIiilJT 
» !  ^11  ^  ■■  f  !  -^  -»7  ^  .^  J^t!^! 

,„ !  ^t^T^T  J.!^  <!-  !f !  .d^  <«  --t 

„ !  IH  -f  !?   !  :e!-  !  E!  .^  i^} 

REVERSK. 

....  <!-£!  £^  'ifi" !  ^-v\  -}  -!!v  ^<  -::  ^]  ^V 

«  ^!  <!!!  ^  -^  EElt!  -!I»  t^     -W, 


62 


The  Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art. 


„-+  <«  -^  ^^  ^  t£v  V  -f  hs 


Tablet  liglit  brown,  beautifully  glaze-l.  The  obverse  in  very  much  effaced  by 
cracks  and  breaks,  but  the  reverHC  is  perfect  li{x2.l  inches.  The  signs  are  beautifully 
made.  Line  4  is  jtrolonged  over  the  right  edge.  The  king's  name  in  the  last  line  is 
very  plain. 


1  30  bilium  kaspi  ia  tkinuiii  //«><   )li  init 

liun  Sum-iddin 

2  MarduJc-mumUlhii     S'ir-<i-ni-Miir-<luk- 

apal  Kir-H-i-ma 

3  Nabfi-iiMsalUin  a-ki-i-nut  a-na  i  uui-na 

Mini 

4  u-iui  Satiuii  i-nu  arah  Vlula  i-iiam-di' 

nu  iiti-ln  jni-ul  iia-)d-l  na-iu-u 

5  ki-i  imi  arah  Ululu  10.  id-dan-nu  hxhi 

6  u  Ui4\l4a  i-nam-di-juL 

7  ina    i)\anzazu     Bil-ipa-ui     (/iwi}/m) 

daiHH  

8  Na*id-Mardnk     {anidK)     iamju    la 

hi 

9  Jiil-iriii  [ajHil-iu]  «a  Xa-na-a-ni-ll 

10  Nabu-gal-lim  apal  Ipi'ii-Uu 

1 1  Arad-ilu  npal  Bab-dii-bani-i 

12  n   {amilu)    dupnar    Xabu-itir-futpiati 

Nippur  a 

13  fimu  13  kam  mUa  r'li  iarrulu 

14  Sin-ium^iiir  iar  {nuU)  Aiiur{ki) 


1  Thirty  talent«  uf  money,  belonging 

to    Shamash,    to  be   received  of 
•Shumiddiu, 

2  Mardukmusallim,    Sharraiiimarduk- 

apul,  Kim*ma,  tand) 

3  Nabiimusallim.        Accordingly,     for 

one  mans  sheep 
■1   to  Shamash  in  the  month  Ululu  they 
will  give.      One  for  the  other  is 
security. 

5  If  in  the  month  Ululu  they  will  not 

give  (them  I,  the  sheep 

6  and  the  young  (i)  they  will  give. 

7  In   the  presence  of  Belepiish,    the 

jndge ; 

8*  NaMdmarduk,  the  priest ; 

9  Deleri'sh,  the  sou  of  Nanuonili; 

10  Nabiigallim,  the  son  of  Epi'shilu; 

11  Aradilu,  the  son  of  Babdishbano; 

12  and    the    scribe  Nabueti-mapshati. 

Nippur, 

13  on  the  13th  day,  in  the  accession 

year  of 

14  Sinshumlishir,  King  of  Assyria. 


Thirty  talents  of  money  are  due  the  god  Shamash,  or  rather  his  temple  at  Nippur 
(Niffer).  On  the  strength  of  this  the  six  persons  mentioned  in  lines  1,  2,  and  3,  are 
to  pay  tithes.  They  are  to  present  the  god  in  the  month  Ululu  (September)  with  sheep, 
to  the  value  of  one  mana.  If  they  fail  to  bring  the  tithe  in  the  stipulated  time,  they  are 
to  give  the  sheep  and  their  increase,  probably  at  a  time  when  the  priests  become  tired 
of  waiting. 

This  is  the  only  tablet  of  the  collection  dated  in  the  reign  of  a  king  of  Assyria.  As  a 
king  of  this  name  is  as  yet  unknown  to  me,  I  should  prefer  to  call  him  one  of  Asurbani- 
pal's  successors,  about  whom  there  is  still  much  to  be  learned. 


Twelfth  Year  of  ShamhshshumuJcin.  63 

NO.  «. 

OB  VEni<K. 

,  ^_  -y  ^11  -/-  I  Kiel  t^iT  ill  :e^  £*  rf.^ 

JtEVJiRSE. 

.<T-^  I  ^11   sitT  }^«f<    ^!I  A  ?^  4<T 

Tablet  yellow,  1|X2|  inches.  lu  perfect  state  of  preservation,  The  signs  are 
large  and  well  made.  The  upper  edge  and  also  the  left  edge  are  without  writing;  the 
right  edge  contains  a  few  signs  of  prolonged  lines.  Below  line  3  there  is  a  line 
separating  the  first  three  lines,  as  indicated  above,  from  the  rest  of  the  tablet. 

1  1  ma-na  h  iiklu  6  iUdu  kaspi  ia  Su-la-a  1    One  maua,   one-third  shekel  and  six 

shekels  of  money,  which  Shula 

2  ina  Hi  li'd-ahl-ir-ba  2  is  to  receive  from  Belahirba 

3  hu-bu-tu-ut-tum  3  as  advance. 


64 


The  Metropolitnn  Museum  of  Art. 


4  {(im'iln)  iiiu-kin-nnlxu-iti-ru  iiiur  (amihn 

i)  Xnbii-aM-fiul-t'uii  mar  Jin-bu-m-ia 

(>  Hil'iddin  mf.7-  Ir-a-na 

7  Bil-ki-'tiir  mar  I-gi-bi 

5  u  liil-ka-HV  alii  Hi-ini-ri 

(j  amh  Sabafu   [iiinu]  25  hum  iulhi  \'l 

kum 

10  haUu  12  kain  S<iinnk-kuin-Hkin-wi 

\  1  iiir  Jiitb'iU(ki) 


.[   WitucHses:    Kasirti,   iLc  hou  of   the 

shepherd; 
.*»  NabuuhishuUiiu,  the  sun  of  Iiubuahia; 
G  Ueliddiii,  the  son  of  Irauu; 
7   Uelkishir,  (he  son  of  Egibi; 
.S  uud  Uclkasir.     At  the  city  Hiuieri, 
it   in  the  mouth  Shabalu,   on  the  25th 

day,  in  the  12th  year, 
In  in   the  12th  year  of  Shuuiashshum- 

nkiu, 
1 1    King  of  Babylon. 


Shula  has  adviiuccd  Belnhirbn  1  ninnn  and  Gi  shekels,  and  this  tablet  merely  records 
that  fact  without  statinf^  when  the  money  is  to  be  returned,  or  what  interest,  if  any,  is 
to  bo  jtaid. 

NO.  ;i. 


,  III  El  ^tJ    W^I    f    I  'T  A--    T  ^!  "ET  Vr 

.i^   .4^   tt   ^   ^T  4#?   T  4^4  sLi^  iU 


£^  ^  £t^  -j^    I  t!I  ^T 


eT:  I    f   I  .5=^  ^  W<  ET  T  »T  t5:T 


Skdeenth  Year  of  Shamashshumvkin. 


on 


llKVKIiSK. 

,J  ^!    t!  It   tC   i^  ^^^  W<   T  H  ^!  -y 

,.s -^  \t^}  -iV  2a?  SI  ^I  ?5i  ^<^ 

,.-y  <S;   ^^     -f  t^I  -4i.-  ►^  +1^^  v^ 


Tablet  brown,  mottled  vvi.h  black  spots;  ljx2J  inches.  The  obverse  is  flat,  while 
the  reverse  curves  outward,  so  that  the  tablet  is  one  inch  thick  at  the  middle.  Perfectly 
preserved.  The  signs  are  large  and  well  made  There  is  a  large  space  nt  the  end  not 
used,  and  the  left  edge  is  also  without  writing. 


1  3  ma-na  hasp!  ,va  7 «-'  Su-la-a 

2  tt  Nahu-ga-m'd  Ina  ill  Astiur-ditn-mt 

3  .<4t-6M-u  Ba-iu-ul 

4  I-gi-gi  Nirgal-ai  u  Si-i-[gu-a] 

5  uitu    itmu  1   kam  m  arah  Duzn    in. 

arha.a.an  1  liiklu 
G   Ina  'iU-m-7iu  l-rah-bi  iHti-in  pn-vt 

7  Ha-nl-i  na-Hu-n  m  hn-war-ra 

S  kaspu  i-mah-har 

9  (arnilv)  mu-kin-vn  Ir-dn 

10  mdr-^iii  ia  Tik-ra-ha-ma  Du-um-kn 

11  mur-m  m  KaHli-nu  Sn-mi-i  apal-.iit  .v.t 

Ad-ri-nu 

12  Sit-Ia-a   m8r    (amlbn    h.'i'irit.   Sani'ti- 

uidin 
V-i   mar  (amihc)  mngu  Babili(ki i  Dumki-ia 
apal  Ga-hal 


1  Three   maim   of  money  Avhich  Tn*, 

Shula, 

2  and  Nabuganiil  are  to  receive  from 

Ashshurdannu, 
:',   .\ibii,  Batiil, 

4  Igigi,  Nergalai,  and  Shogua. 

5  From   the  first    day  of  the   month 

Duzu  on,  every  mouth  one  shekel 
tl   against  them  shall  increase.      One  is 
security  for 

7  the  other.     "Whom  they  will  find, 

8  he  shall  receive  the  money. 

9  Witnesses :    Irba, 

10  the  son  of  Tikrahama;  Dumkn, 

11  the  son  of  Kadinu;   Sliami.  the  son 

of  Adrinn; 

12  Simla,    the  son  of    the   iishorman; 

Hhamashiddin, 

13  the   son   of  the  i>riest  of   liabylon; 

Dumkia,  the  son  of  Gahal; 


m 


The  Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art. 


14  M  {nmilu)  dupsar  Mu-ra^nu  mUr  I-t/lJji 

15  Bafnlu(ld)  arah  Duzn  ftrnw  9  A»m 
10  ifUta  16  ham  Aimni-ium'ttkln-iut 
17  iar  JiabUiihu) 


14  and  the  scribe,   Muranu,  the  sou  of 

Egibi. 
\i}  Babylon,  iu  the  uiouth  Duzu,  on  the 

9th  diiy, 

16  in  the  IGth  yenr  of  Shaniashshum- 

nkiii, 

17  King  of  Itubylou. 


The  three  personn  named  in  lines  1  and  2,  have  loaned  three  maim  to  the  tax 
mentioned  in  lineK  3  and  I.  They  ure  to  pay  nu  interest  till  the  month  DAzu 
(July)  arrives.  Thereafter  they  mnst  pay  the  very  moderate  interest  of  one  shekel  per 
month,  that  is,  65  per  cent  per  year.  If,  however,  the  debtors  wish  to  return  the 
money,  they  inny  pay  it  to  any  one  of  the  throe  eretlitors,  whom  they  t-an  most  cou- 
Teuieutly  reach. 


NO.  4. 

OB  VJiJiSK. 

,f  <sytT  4i  T  "cTtTtT  -II  "^  J«< 

A^\   ^}S^I   ''T   «    "'^^    T    Sill    ^f 

.11  JiCJ   T  ^tltT  -y  f  t}}  ^<h  Tl  &^I  If 

,£^   -^  Ifi:   -^   T  -m  'IeT  If 
.leC    i    I    "=^-l!^T    K^    If    If 

liKVEHSK. 

.1   :=   -^   :hIAI   If    I  --f.  <«    V    em    -^ 
.1  «T  ^1  V  yn  -^tltl  ^  fl  Tf 


Sixteenth  Year  of  Shamashshunmlim. 


67 


u  *v  w^-}  ^    2<i^  ^}  -^  «  ^ 

„►%^    <^     ^     -Ar     tzf    -4l-     ►^    C^T 


Tablet  yellow;  lix2  inches.  The  signs  are  very  indistinct,  as  if  the  stylus  used 
was  dull  or  had  been  pressed  into  the  clay  lightly.  The  two  names  at  the  beginning 
of  lines  8  and  9  are  but  tentative  readings,  as  they  are  partially  covered  with  a  hard  flinty 
substauce.  The  edges  are  not  written  upon.  A  large  space  is  lel't  between  lines  9 
and  10. 


1  i  hiklu.  kaspi  vi-l.t-l)H 

2  kt  ill  Nabu-hil'iiSni 

?»  itl-tu  umu  20  kam  ia  arah  Duzu 

4  a-mr  Nabu-mm-i»ku-un    ina    pPm  n- 

mur-a 

5  v4ir  lirit-tir 

G  (amilu)  mu-km-nu  Sll-la-n 

7  mur  ha  Nabu-na-ai 

8  Tab-bi-U  apal  Sin-kHr-u-nu 

9  Lu-ba-lat  apal  Nahu-na-al 

10  u  {amilu)  clupsar  ^maH-u-si-zib 

1 1  Babibi(ki)  arah  Duzu.  wnu.  20  katn 

12  mttu  16  kam  Samai-ium-uki7i 

13  mr  BabUHki) 


1  One-third  shekel  of  money,   the  re- 

vocalion, 

2  which  (took  place)  against  Nabubel- 

ilani, 

3  from  the  20th  day  of  the  month  Duzu, 
t   wherever  Nabi'ishumishkun    will  be 

found, 

5  the  remainder  he  will  verily  return. 

6  Witnesses:  Silla, 

7  the  son  of  Nabunaai; 

8  Tab("'t,  the  son  of  Sinkurnnn; 

9  Lubalat,  the  son  of  Nabunaai; 

10  and  the  scribe  Shamaslmshezib. 

11  Babylon,     in   the   month  Duzu,   on 

the  20th  day, 

12  in  the  16th  year  of  Shamashshum- 

ukiu, 
l?t  King  of  Babylon. 


Nabiibelilani  had  been  excluded  by  Nubushumishkun  from  a  certain  portion  of  his 
inheritance.  Now  this  action  is  revoked  and  Nabubelilani  can  hope  to  inherit  all  he 
had  expected. 


The  Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art. 


NO.  5. 

on  YBRSE. 

J   v^    ^    e?^»    E^  cK  T  BrT%n' 


JiUVKRSK. 

.  I  -4  ^T  ^  Tl  ^  ^jn  i^  c-v  ^iv  sr<<^  T? 
..  y  ::^  ::i  fciM?  y?  A  :^ 


Thirteenth  Year  of  Kinelddanos. 


(50 


kSs^  ^!   ^'I<¥  ^    ►^<ITT^Ii 


T 


;t<t  -^t  ^- 


Tablet  browu  slmdinf,'  to  black;  \\Xi\  inches.  The  upper  n>^lit  haiul  corner  of 
the  obvorso  is  destroyed,  au.l  the  obverse  is  badly  daiims^d  throughout  by  the  crumbling 
off  of  the  clay.  The  reverse  is  almost  perfect,  a  few  easdy  supplied  signs  at  Ihe  end  of 
lines  17  and  18  being  broken  off.  'J'lie  signs  are  very  plain.  'J'lioro  is  no  writing  on 
the  left  edge. 


1  yomtln)   iiui-klii-n!-i    so    ina   jm-iii-kn- 

L""] 

2  Xivfjal-n-tirit-li!  H-li. 

;',  hiii  hit  (iiii)  S(i-h;i-ii:t  iii-i>oi-\i<(-ii/\ 

4  Stir-lii->i- i-pi-sd    [.  D  CP 

5  r)<nr-rn-/<i  uiuulu)    TC  [h~ifi\  {ihi)  Sii- 

hH-bit 
ti    Bil-mi(->ial-)ii  {ii))iilii)   IT  hit!  (Ihi)  S<i- 
Ut-bit  ,-  , 

7  I-fi-rn   (inn'tht)    TC  h'lt'i  {iln)  Sn-hU-hit 

8  }iil-'i/ir^{<imilii)  TChV!  (llii)  S<i-hH-h!l 

0  Zir-ia  Oniiiiit)  rjinvnarit 

10  A-ki-rl-ili(  itp(d  S<t-n<t-ki-sn 

11  Samii-nbaUi-it  (nmihi)  riJILMIS 

12  ^nnm-vmr  {nmihi)  mohjh  hi  Ainnt-nl- 

g<tb-n[(kj)\ 

13  Mard>ik-zir-ibiii  apul  Ir-it-hi 

14  Nabu-imir  apal  Asxxr-Umi 

IT)   Saniai-mu(lamnii-'d'    apal     (nmibt) 

JJI.BI 
If.    Bi-bi-i-a  apal  (am'ihi)  HI.  HI 

17  arah   Tairiln    inmt   17    kmn   xalln   Dl 

k[ain] 

18  Kan-ta-Ui-nii  xar  Ba[bi]i(ki)] 


1  These  are  the  witnesses  according  to 

whose  testimony 

2  Nergalushathi  with 

;'   in    the  temple    of  the  god  Sabitbit 

lived. 

•1   Hharbi 

5    Usurrushi,  the of  the  temple 

of  the  god  Sabitbit; 
G   IJelmushalui,    the of    the 

temple  of  the  god  Sabitbit; 

7  Eteru,   the of  the  temple  of 

the  god  Sabitbit; 

8  r.eletcr,  the of  the  temple  of 

the  god  Sabitbit; 
0  Ziria,  the  singer; 

10  Asharidn,  the  son  of  Shanashishu; 

1 1  Shamashuballit,  the ; 

12  Shamaslmsur,  the  priest  of  the  city  (?) 

Amatnigaba; 
1.1  Mardukziribni,  the  son  of  Irani; 

14  Nabusur,  the  son  of  Ashsluiritmi; 

15  Shamashmudammilc,      the     sou     of 

the ; 

1(5  Bibea,  the  son  of  the 

17  In  the  month  Tashritn,  on  the  17th 

day,  in  the  1.1th  year  of 

18  Kineladanos,  King  of  ]>abvlon. 


This  tablet  is  evidently  a  document  prepared  for  use  in  some  suit.  It  gives  the 
names  of  the  witnesses  who  could  testify  that  Nergalusliathi  and  another  person, 
whose  name  is  contained  in  the  break  at  the  end  of  line  2,  bad  lived  together  in  the 
temple  of  the  god  Sabitbit  for  a  certain  time.  What  the  two  words  at  the  end  of  line 
4  mean,  I  am  at  loss  to  say,  as  the  meaning  of  /.  DLT  is  not  known. 


70 


The  Metropolitan  MtjUieum  of  Art. 


The  name  of  the  king,  Kineladanos,  has  been  frequently  identified  with  AsKur- 
banipul,  and  many  Assyriologists  argue  that  the  latter,  after  the  overthrew  of  his 
brother  Shamashshumukin,  ruled  over  Babylon  in  person,  assnming  this  obRcnre 
name  Kineladanos.  But  this  seems  impossible.  We  cannot  understand  how  an 
illustrious  Acsyrian  king  should  lay  aside  that  illustrious  name  and  assume  an 
insigniticant  and  unknown  one.  Kineladanos  is  most  likely  the  predecessor  of  Nabo- 
polassar  on  the  throne  of  Babylon. 


NO.  «. 


on  VKIiSK 


5 lite  <r   I  "^..l  "^FI 
oiiii  \r  1  ^-T  ^] 


41 
I? 


.  ■■■■■I  -  <!-  !  '"tTi:  -'^-  BIA]  iSiJ  Ta^I 

Jbuut  tiro  Hhik  (HI  Ihr  uhnmc,    iind  tiro  on  thr  renr»r  art  broken  off. 

nFA'RRSK. 

» III!  <!-     T  -f  <:=!5T  t:  ^T  T?  .^ 


i     ]}  ^ 


i«  m     T     IT    >-^     «  n^ 


Tt!    \-  ^1     <<<f  ^ 


Fourteenth  Year  of  Kiiieladanos. 


71 


.III  ^T  -^  ^   .1^^    T!I  -^   JKT    fKI 


19 


i» 


.^    \V 


:!<!  -^I  "7^ 


Tablet  light  brown;  lix2i  inches.  A  fragment.  The  lower  and  left  portions  are 
completely  destroyed,  as  well  as  line  1.  The  signs  have  also  suffered  considerably.  Line 
4  seems  to  have  been  erased. 


2    inn  pun  Xa-fti-rl 

3    ina  pun  liU-aM-ir-ha 

4    inn  pan  lli-mr-in 

5    [«■»«]  pan  Su-la-n 

fi    [mo]  pan  Knl-ha-n 

7    [Inn  p]iin  Bil-iifinlll-if   »t    THr- 

vn-n 
S    ina  pan   Jii'l-uhalli-i/  nrnh 

rial  a 


2  from  Nasiri; 

?,  from  KclnhirVm; 

4  from  Kishartu; 

5  from  Shnl.a; 

G  from  Kalba; 

7  from  Beluballit  and  Dinn&; 

H  from  Beliiballit ;  in  the  month 

TTluln  (they  will  pay). 


lo    .......   {inn  pan]  Marduk-zir-ihnl 

14    [ina']  pun  Marduk-tnh-hn-n-nl 

li)    m  n-nn  snliipu  id(Un-nu 

16    m  a-na  JSI.BAB  na-m-a 

17    ma-na  50  UMit  "h  Mklu  kaspl 

18    [«]  16 «irt-M«  14 '*»/•■/»( /«.[a.an]. 

in m  haspi 

19    [nrn/j  Air]H  mna  lo  Kam  Snlln 

14  hnni 

20    Knn-tn-ln-nii, 


Lines  0—12  are  destroj'ed. 

13  from  Mardnk-nribni ; 

14  from  Marduktabbani. 

15  which  for  dates  were  given ; 

1 G  which  for  grain  were  brought; 

17    mana  53i  shekels  of  money; 

18  and    IG    mana   14   shekels   each   of 
money. 

10  In  the  month  Airu,  on  the  15th  day, 

in  the  14th  year  of 
20   Kineladanos. 


The  clew  to  this  tablet,  the  first  line,  is  unfortunately  broken  off.  But  it  is  plain 
that  it  contains  a  list  of  some  objects,  which  the  jiersons  mentioned  in  lines  2—14  are 
to  pay  either  as  tithes  or  as  taxes.  The  parts  broken  off  at  the  beginning  of  lines  2 — 17 
evidently  contained  numerals.  Line  17  seems  to  imply  that  the  dates  mentioned  in 
line  15  were  valued  at  . .  mana  53i  shekels;  and  the  grain,  in  line  10,  according  to  line 
18,  at  16  mana,  14  shekels. 


72  The  Metropolitan  Mimeuvi  of  Art. 

NO.  7. 

OB  VKHKK. 

,  S  yi^  *  I  "^tltT  S<T  <*-  --f  ^-    -    5?:T 

<«  ^  I  f  ^  rTT  c;  5:?  ty 

,T <  cc  :?:I  T  -"f  <=!!  -i^^   eee  &:T   f  ^^  tTT 


10 


dH  ^.tfc^  <5:eI  « t^  try  ^  Et  tyi 


11   ^^^^ 


tiT  I  ^11  ^U  .^is^      <  Et  ^TT  ¥  E 

►n  :^?  &:? 


Eighth  Tear  of  Nabojyolasmr. 


73 


nllllllBlltil  <  I  -f  <s^!  ^   R-T  ^  ? 


REVERSE. 


<  tTT  f  t  &:T  ?  S 


ife:T   T  T  1r  "!4^TtI  :eT  ffi    EEt= 


t|T  ir  !=  til 

19  P^^^^^^^l^i?  1      \  *^ 

M?S 

\  c 

t!T? 

s- 

.. «« 

tl!  ?&!?!? 

4f<|  1^ 

.ET/ 

1 

►tV 

Tablet  brown;  23X  Vj  inches.  The  lower  loft  hand  corner  of  the  obverse  is  totally 
broken  off,  also  the  ujiper  left  hand  corner  of  the  reverse  is  destroyetl  thus.  The  tablet  is 
in  bad  condition,  cracks,  crumbling  off  of  the  clay,  and  breaks  occur  throughout.  The 
upper  and  the  left  edges  are  not  written  upon.  Erasures  ara  frequent.  A  few  wedges, 
numerals,  are  scatterel  in  the  empty  si^ace  above  and  below  the  date  on  the  reverse, 
not  bearing  ttpon  the  text  of  the  tablet.  Line  8  is  written  small  and  very  closely  to 
.ine  7,  as  if  explanatory  of  line  7 . 


74 


The  Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art. 


1  svJiupv.  i-mit-tii  ia  (anitlu)  NL'.SAR. 

J//<§  m  alu  Bilrik-bi 

2  iallu  8  kuin  Ndbu-ujMtl-timr  iur  Buh'di 

(fci) 

3  46  'jur  4  pi  snltipa  ijuni-rn  Sai/ik-zir 

4  [£].DUI-'  ia    Xabu-bul  Ut-uit-iii    mt 

blti  iburi  i-nam-din 
6    15  fjur  'S  pi  Ai-ri  h  Ahu-lu'inur  Hf  ijnr 
ili-iiti-uu  m  ia  'J  ijur  i-fir  (/) 


6  71  >jnr  2  pi  Snbu-ba-nl  o  ijnr  iUfiiti' 

na-in  in  1  ijur  i-tlr-ma 

7  74  Ijur  yinjal'iHusaWim  \i  ijar  ia  'J  ijnr 


8  IDUPia  M'U-ir.hi 

9  31  ijttr  }yiinai-aiHil-ufnr  5  ['jur]  wi  1 

ffiir 

10    + -1   ifur  yinjal-nnisaUiin   I.lJi'l' ia 
Bii'ii-li'la  25  gur  ia  5  ;/«»• 


11  ....   fjur  BU-ifik-ir  15  gur  ia  S  gnr  i- 

tir 

12    Marduk-ium-ibni    Samaimp'ir 

16  gur  2  |>i  wt  3  gur  2  pi 


13    u   Mrgid-ibni    I. DIP    ia 

Nab&'na^id 

14    -ukiu  i.Dl'P  1*  ijnr  ki  3  ;/»«• 

15   yabu-zir-ibni 

16   -5«    Z.Z)t*P    m    yabtt-ibni- 

[zir] 

17    -t(*Mr  10  gur  ia  2  «7«r  2  j>i 


1  Dates  still  on  the  tree,  belouging  to 

the officers    of    the  city 

uf  Belikbi. 

2  In   the  8th  year    uf  Nabopolassar, 

Kiug  of  Babylou. 

3  46  gur  4  pi  perfect  dales  Hhapikzir, 

4  as   the of  Nabubullitauui 

into  the  store-houses  will  give, 
.j   lo  gur  3  pi  (dates)  Airi  aud  Ahulu- 
uiur,  10  gur  of  their  palm  brauches 
equivaleut  to  2  gur  (dates)  they 
will  give. 

6  71  gur  2  pi  (dates)  Nabubani,  5  gur 

of  his  palm  branches  equivalent 
to  1  gur  (dates)  he  will  give. 

7  74  gur  (dates)  Nergalmusallim,  9  gur 

(palm  brauches)  equivalent  to  2 

gur  (dates), 
N  tlio of  Beluirtu,     (ho  will 

give). 
9   31    gur  (dates)  Shamashapalusur,  G 

gur  (iNilm  branches)  equivalent  to 

1  gur  (dates,  he  will  give). 

10  -|'  21  gur  (dates)  Nergalmusallim,  the 

of  Beluirtu,  25  gur  (|)alm 

branches)  equivalent  to  5  gur 
(dateH,  he  will  give). 

11    gur  (dutesj  Belbhakir,    15    gur 

((>alm  branches)  equivalent  to  3 
gur  (dates),  he  will  give. 

12  Mardukshumibiii  (and)  Shamaiihsap* 

ir,  16  gur  2  pi  (palui  branches) 
eiiuivaleiit  to  3  gur  2  pi  (dates, 
they  will  give). 

13    aud  Nergalibni,  the 

of  Nabiina*id. 

14    ukin.  the 2  gur 

(palm  branches)  equivalent  to  3 

gnr  (dates). 

].^    Nabiiziribui. 

10   bel,    the    of  Nabik. 

ibnizir. 

17    nsur,  10  gur  (palm  branches) 

equivalent  to  2  gur  2  pi  (dates). 


Eighth  Year  of  Nabopolassar . 


75 


18    [LD]UP  m  Sft-Nttbtt-ki-u 

a  (jur  m  2  <j>ir 

10    12  !/'</•  2  jd  Mt  2  i/"c  2  }n 

20  40  ;/'<»•  2  pi  Ai-ri  Nahd-in-zib-itn-ni 

21  f(m/'    I'lida   unm.  21  k'dit  tidMnH  han 

Xahu-apal- mur  mr  liabiti{ki) 


18   the of  Sbanabushii, 

8  gur  (palm  branches)  eciuivalent 
to  2  gur  (dates). 

1!)    12  gur  2  pi  (palm  branches) 

C(|uivalent  lo  2  gur  2  pi  (dates). 

20  40  gur  2  pi  Airi  (nud)  Nabushuzib- 

auni  (will  give). 

21  lu  the  mouth  Ululu,  on  the  21st  day, 

iu  the  8th  year  of  Nabopolassar, 
King  of  Babvlon. 


This  tablet  treats  of  the  tuxes  that  the  farmers  had  to  pay  to  the  granary  of  the 
city  Belikbi.  The  otKcials  mentioned  iu  line  1,  were  probably  the  tax-gatherers.  The 
tablet  seems  to  say  that  i)alm  branches  could  be  used  instead  of  the  fruit  in  payment 
of  the  taxes,  and  the  ratio  between  the  value  of  the  branches  and  of  the  fruit  is  given 
in  several  instances.  The  bad  state  of  preservation  in  which  the  tablet  now  is,  and 
the  terse  expressions,  render  the  tablet  difficiilt  to  translate. 


NO.  H. 

OB  VERSE. 

m        $t:       '^       <^        ^}       >^ 


V     .<<1t 


]      J>-      T  T      The  nmuimUr  of  (he  line  i»  ituoicd,  thv  traces  cotrespond  to  line  11. 


76  The  Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art. 

,„<   T  <-  ^TI    If  ^   <sTtI   !   V  t-<I 

uT  I-    T  <«  ^     T    ^tltT    "s^-^     JJ^    <T- 

.^KW  ^  t!-s^s|  :^TtT  J  I!  <  -  55:^  5T  &  f  'JUI 

HKVEllSK. 

,„  SSL?  y    ^i  <  m  ^    -^  '^  ^ 

■JIT   rflT'S'   ©II     V    ^    «   ^   '^ 
■»-   ^E  ^  t!  ^   kliir    ^    3<<j   :&& 


Tablet  gray;  l'^X2i  iuches.  The  clny  m  soft  ftud  brittle.  The  HigUH  are  very  Hiuall 
nml  crude.  A  straight  liue  separuten  liuctt  2  aud  4.  Line  13  just  occupies  the  luwer 
nlgo.    There  is  nmch  space  wasted. 

1  sttlupu  tin  ii-Hit  tiniti'iiir-in  |        1    (This  is  the  unuiber  of  measures  of) 

dates,  which  at  the  end 

2  ki  anth   yimmiu  mtln  9  hiin  ynbu-  2   »if   the   mouth   Nisanuu   of  the  I'th 

apoZ-tw»ur  year  of  Nabopolnssar, 

3  u-na  amilu     MIS     u      {uniilx}  ;{   to  the priests  and  the  (temple) 

3[U.  MU  nadin  servants  was  given. 

4  28i  \j>i]  4J  Avt  Marduk-zir-ib-ni  4  28*  pi  4A  ka  Mnrdukziribni, 


Ninth  Year  of  Nabopolassar . 


11 


5  hui   nti-iil   (iinu  15   hiia  (trka  ftiini  in 

iinih  Shiutmi  i-tir 

6  75  \pi\   Summ-Ui-ir  inn.    Inl-Uik  unvi 

15  kam  arkn  limit 

7  htitnth  Nisannu  (itiuilii)  nia-iu  i-tir 

8  1(50   f-      (This     Hue    is    erased,    the 

traces  correspond  to  line  1 1,  beuco 
probably  misplaced.) 
0   15  |/>i]   BU-uhntli-it  apal  (ttmiln)  pa- 
ii-ki 

10  II  Bdlai-sa  una  ill  Kiulnrra 

11  196  [jn]  JUiihurzir-gdl-lim 

12  fljuit    15    him    md-ak-kasn    u    sil-li 

i-tir 

13  ndpfiara  75^  [jn]  Hi  Simni-iti-ir 

14  5  Igiir]  S£.  HAH  m  S^imni-iti-ir 

15  ««  (nmUii)  mnu-'li  di  inn  hit  Hi 

16  iirah  Aihini  umn  \'.j  htm,  idlln  8  kam 

17  3     har{?)-ra-m     m    (ftmilu) 

imiii-di-di 

18  1  :/[«>•]  ki-is-ki-[rii]  in  uruh  Niaunnu, 

I'J   10  [pi]  Balut-sii  (aniUii)  ri'a  Masallim- 

apla 
'b >  ; »■>   [  />'] i.-tir 


5  in  the  middle  (of  the  mouth)  on  the 

15th  day  after  the  first  day  of  the 

mouth  Siuiunu,  paid. 
G  75  pi  Shamasheter,  at  the  end  of  the 

15th  day  after  the  first  day 
7   of  the  mouth  Nisannu  (to)  the 

mau,  paid. 


y   15  pi  Beluballit,  the  son  of  the. 


10  and  Balatsu  for  Kudurru  (paid). 

1 1  196  pi  Nabuzirgallim 

12  on  the  15th  day  as  taxes  and  rent(?) 

paid. 

13  Altogether    75J     pi  were     received 

from  Shamasheter. 

14  5  gur  of  grain,  which  Shamasheter 

15  for  the  measurer  in  the  temple  of 

the  god  (gave\ 

16  in   the   month   Adaru,    on  the  13th 

day,  in  the  8th  year. 

17  3  is  the  (wages)  of  the  meas- 

urer. 

18  1   gur  is  sustenance  for  the  month 

Nisannu. 

19  19  pi   Balatsu,    the  shepherd,    (and) 

Musnllimapla  (paid). 

20  35  pi paid. 


fhe  purport  of  this  tablet  is  given  in  the  first  three  lines.  It  is  a  list  of  the  debts 
or  tithes  that  were  2>n'id  to  the  x^nests  and  temple  servants.  All  these  amounts  were 
jjaid  at  various  dates,  but  before  the  end  of  the  month  JTisannii  of  the  9th  year.  There 
Mardukziribui  pays  in  the  middle  of  Simanu  of  the  previous  year;  Shamasheter  has 
just  15  days  to  spare  for  his  75  pi,  and  47  days  for  his  5  gur.  Line  13  seems  to  be  a 
repetition  of  line  6,  and  in  the  13tb  line  half  of  a  pi  has  even  been  added  to  Shamash- 
eti'r's  (piota.  Lines  17  and  18  give  the  amounts  of  grain  paid  to  the  measurers  for  their 
work  and  their  keep. 


78  The  Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art. 

NO.  ». 

OB  VERfiE. 

.*     -  <T-     T  -4-   ^51  t^^  --f   ►i^ 
,^    -II  l^f<     *     T  gl    "     T  "=T:I   ^^ 

.m  V  1^  »?  +  <  IT  TJ  sitT  ^  IST  <T-  JI 
.  -  I  -^T  -JUI  *  £:-.  -II  JJ^J  f  <V  t^l 
,0^-IT  -^  -1^  t£  t<H  ■  tt  c;<|  <rf<  ^  4i- 
.,  f 1 1-  <«  7/  :e1  <I-  -II  ^  ty  ^.mi  f  y  i;  t:|^y  yj 
..  f  I  V  <«  ^  -  ti  -^j  *  y  -^tyty  -f 
.„fi  V  <«  w  -  ^  -^i  f  y  ^11  -^  yjy  -^  M 
M  <?I  V  «  ^  -  ty  %LTT  f  y  -^^yii  -y  y?  y  ^^  }h^< 
..  f  1 1-  «<  i«  -  ti  -^  f  I  -;i  I  v^ 
,.  f  T  V  <«  w  -  ty  .^   V    y  <^^;  ^  ,^  V- 

,r  III  V   ^I  HI    -  :=I  -ilir    7    I  -^   <«   ^ 


NintJi  Year  of  I$aboj)olassar. 


79 


„  ITT  T-  T  «  R?  &<  T  -f  TTIIlftllll  i^\,  "^ 

ME  VERSE. 

.  ^    »T  <I-  IT  I-  <«  i^  -f-  TIT  ■■■■ 

..-  fn.  t:k  TKT-  V  lETKT-'fl  T^  ^  :?:!  HT-? 

..IT-T«<i^<   ^  «=spT  i::.:! 

« m^^<    ^  «  ^  -^ 

..TTTI   ^  H<T  I^  S^^I 

,,Y    e^T    ST-T  ^  ^!  f  M 

.^^  -f  f  I  "s^tT^T  ►¥  T  tH£^  -tlT  f  -f  ^T 
,T  wT   T  siT  %^  K5l   SIT  ^T  -^ 
.TIT  T-   H  <V  +1    -  tT  -iUI    f   -f  ^T 
»t£  »T  <:^5  ^  ^  -  ^tr,  :=!  f  T  EI  <T-  -U 
«T?    ►^     e^lET    t^ItT    ;M    S^I    <<    ^^     '^ 


»TTT  T-   H  <I-  -fl    '.    I  "=^-1-I  ■v^^    ^ 
.t^V.  *  TJ    -    itr.  c^    «<    H  <i-  -i; 
»T  tU  -4   I?   «  W   £^   «=ss    »5^T 
„«5    St  «  ki   ^    TIT    ^  ^T<T  Tl  Si^^T 
«2<l^     t;^T     ^T     ^     •^     •¥     ^     $«> 


,T   ^tltl   T?   ^     «=£i 


^    '>;^} 


^ 


80 


The  Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art. 


Tablet  gray,  very  hard,  surface  glazed;  ljx3  inches.  The  signs  are  plainly  made. 
Nuinerons  dividing  Hues  separate  the  various  sentences.  The  upper,  lower,  and  left 
edges  are  not  written  upon.     The  right  edge  contains  a  few  signs  of  prolonged  lines. 


1  sLliAHia  (ninUn)  irriki  w<  SttiiKiii 

2  Hit  inn  iiliil  Murdiik-mr-an-iti 

',]   {(iiiiua)  hit  inhuti  ha  lld-tar  llil-ilml 

5  582  pi  vKi-m-h  n 

6  iii'i  2  ta  ilipjn  kti  (aniUii)  bit  ]d/juli 

7  IjaiTuiin  inii/i-ri-i-lKiu  i-du  ul  im-din 

8  347i  |/'»1  12  [n'l]  fi-kii-lii  inn-ii-hu 

9  inn    I    iUinti   kn   (ntnUn)   hit  pilj'iii  kii 

jiuiii-lnin 

10  IjarrCtiin  (tr-ki-i-lmn  i-du  ul  im-ilin 

11  435  ma-ii-lja  inn  Uipin  iui  A-id->i 

12  439  tun  ilippi  m  Xuhii-itir 

13  439   iiKi    ilippi    in    BU-iddin   ni»il 

Mu-mi-in 

14  429  ina  ilippi  in  liU-vddin  niud  Na-nir 

15  439  inn  ilippi  in  liiliit-mt 

\6  439  inn  ilippi  in,  Iddin-na-HU-nn 

17  363  inn  ilippi  in  Sin-iuntr 

18  38t)  mniihii  (ilu)  . .  .* ..si-sa 

19  uuphnra  4239A  \pi]  3  [ku] 

20  inn  lib-bi  2004  mn-ii-hu  n-nn  si-knb 

21  199  muiifiH  {uniUu)  duit-sar 

22  66  maiiliu  (amUu)  vutttrdi-di 

23  43  i<lu-<i-ta 

24  ia  nbu  kn-lu-ui-[H]i-i 

25  St.BAR  ia  Nabii-iuin-iikaun  (amilu) 

irriiti  in  Samui 

26  Ukin  Du-midc-ukin  ii-iii-na 

27  300  ma-ii-hu  ina  ilippi  ia  Sattuli 

28  i-du  nl  nn-din  ina  lib-bi  in   1  ma-ii-fiti 


1    Grain  belonging  to  the  gardeners  of 

Sbaniash, 
'J  which  is  at  the  disposal  of  Marduk- 

sharanni, 
:>   the  prefect,  which  Ratar,  lielibni, 
1   (and)  Shaiuashzirikisbo,  brought. 
.*>  .'f82  lueasiires,  the  size  of  :i  pi, 
ti  in  two  ships,   belonging  to  the  pre- 
fect, (they  brought). 
7   In  the  first  business  transaction  he 

did  not  pay  freight  uionoy. 
}<>  347  ^.j  pi  12  ka,  measures  of  food, 
'.)   in  one  ship  belonging  to  the  prefect, 
(they  brought);    this  isathisdis- 
])OBaL 

10  In  the  second  business  transact iou 

he  did  not  pay  freight  money. 

11  4:15  measures  in  the  ship  of  Alda 

(they  brought); 

12  4.'m  in  the  ship  of  Nabiiet<'r; 

l:>  is.}  in  the  ship  of  Beliddin,  the  sou 
of  Mumeshu; 

14  429  in  the  8hip  of  Beliddin,  the  son 

of  Nasir; 

15  439  in  the  ship  of  Belshuuu; 

16  i^fJ  in  the  ship  of  Iddinnanunu; 

17  363  in  tJie  ship  of  Siuusur; 

18  386  measures sisu  (brought). 

19  Total  4239i  pi  3  ka 

20  Thereof  2004  measures  are  for ; 

21  199  measures  (for)  the  scribe; 

22  66  measures  (for)  the  measurer; 

23  43  (measures)  are  the  freight  moneys 

24  of  the  chief 

25  The  grain  belonging  to  Nabushnm- 

ishkun,  the  gardener  of  Shamash, 

26  Ukin  (and)  Dumukukin  brought. 

27  300  measures  in  the  ship  of  Shamash 

(he  brought). 

28  Freight    money     he    did    not    pay. 

Thereof  (however)  1  measure 


Ninth  Year  of  Nabopolassar 


81 


20  rt  Hrt  nhtt  kd-hi-xii-Ki-i'  UUlhi 

VtO  'M)  i)Hi->ti-lin  ga  N(thfi--h'-lh»! 

JU  iii-sn-a  Ina  lib-ln  i\0  mn->t'i-hu 

32  Jb-nn-n  25  (am flu)  dup-ftnr 

33  9  {((miht)  nuin-tll-iU  3  i-thi-<i-tii 

34  <ti'<th  Ahfi  fiiiiit  9  hint  tcnltii  0  Av/wi 

35  Ndhii-iipiil'iisKf  Niir  Unh]ii[ki) 


20  to  the  chief he  gave. 

30  300  ineftsures  belonging  to  Nabrtzir- 

il>ni 

31  were  brought.     Thereof  30  measures 

32  Ibna,  (received);  25.  the  scribe; 
32  0  tlie  measurer;  3  for  freightage. 

34  In  the  month  Abu,  on  the  0th  day, 

in  the  9th  j'ear  of 

35  Nabopolassar,  King  of  Babylon, 


Marduksharrani,  the  prefect  of  the  province,  has  piarcha.sed  a  large  quantity  of  grain 
from  the  gardeners  of  the  temple  of  Shamash.  This  grain  is  to  be  freighted  to  him  by 
water.  Katar,  Bolibni,  and  Shamashzirikisha  are  selected  to  transport  the  grain.  They 
make  use  of  10  ships.  Three  of  these  belong  to  the  prefect,  consequently  he  has  to 
pay  no  freightage  for  these,  but  for  the  remaining  7  ships  his  freightage  amounts  to  43 
measures.  It  is  interesting  to  note  that  the  total  given  in  line  10,  is  50  pi  0  ka  below  the 
actual  amount:  evidently  the  scribe  was  no  expert  matiiematician.  From  line  20 — 24 
the  disbursements  of  the  jirefect  are  recorded.  It  is  interesting  also  to  note  what  wages 
or  commission  were  given  to  the  sciibo  and  to  him  that  measured  the  grain.  The 
scribe  performs  intellectual  labor,  ho  therefore  receives  three  times  as  much  as  the  mere 
measurer.     After  all  deductions  the  prefect  has  remaining  2186^  pi  12  ka. 

Lines  25 — 29  contain  the  account  of  Nabushumishkun;  and  lines  30 — 33  that  of 
Nabuziribni.  The  former  spends  only  one  measure  for  freightage;  while  the  latter 
spends  the  dispi-oportionate  sum  of  67  measures,  though  each  receives  300  measures. 
Money  seems  to  have  been  banished  entirely  from  all  these  transactions,  each  man  is 
paid  in  grain,  and  \villingly  accepts  it. 

As  there  are  three  accounts  made  out  on  this  one  tablet,  I  think  it  the  most  likely 
supposition  to  assume  that  it  was  made  out  for  the  gardeners  of  the  temple,  and  was 
kept  in  the  temple  archives  at  Sippara. 


NO.  10. 

OBVERSE. 

.<!!  :eI  <T-  -f-I  ^  ^ITT   T  M-T-I  ^-\  ^}  II 
.-      <tt    ^    -T^      f      t:<ItT    Jtt    H 


1   ^<^ 


82  The  Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art. 


W&M 


T   ^i\t\   ^^   Jil    <:^^    :r?   ^11 


REVKRSE. 

:«    '^\  <y   'M     ¥     ^T  ^::!  c-M   IrTT 
.T  «  ^   lfe?TT    -fl  IB    T  "^-T-T  :^  ►^-  ►A. 

„  T  «<  TI!   tfefn    !!!  -*t     -    <y    T  -II  T^  -^ 

wV    II  I-   T     IHT  <V  -II     I  ^^.  ^   If 

I«        :^?    -^ 


►-<!►-< 


Tablet  brown;  1x24  iucbes.  Tbe  obverso  is  well  preserve*!,  with  the  exception  of 
the  right  hand  lower  corner,  which  is  blnrred:  the  traces  of  the  king's  name  arc,  how- 
ever, certain.     Line  10  of  the  reverse  is  badly  eflfaced. 


1  12  ma-ii-hn  inn  l.'it/i  X<ihu-ijtul-i-/i 

2  itm  mlHli-liMa  sulfipn 

3  Ina  llb-bi  i-viit-in  in  iatln  !•  kom 

4  tktinnp'iti  Nabd'ium-Uldin  iijHil-int  («<»! 

5  Nabu-na^id  ul  i-t[ir] 

G  (irah   KlsUhmi    fnnn   16  him  tiattii  9 
kam  Nabii-njHil-tiMKf 

7  20  mn-Hi-lni  ia  uta-nk-ka-su 

8  85  mamhu  3  [kn]  Nahu-tab-ni-vi 

9  i)  maiihu  3  ka  Iti-ir-BU 

10  (amlln)  iikaru 

11  93  maiUju  3  ka  ina  pun  BU-apal-iddin 


1  12  measures  from  the  Imiuls  of  Na- 

bi'igudea, 

2  in  the  measuring  of  the  dates, 

3  in  addition  to  the  dates  still  on  the 

tree,  of  the  9lh  year, 
•1    which   he   was  to  receive   of  Nabu- 

shnmiddin,  the  son  of 
5  Nabuna'id,  he  did  not  receive. 
0  In  the  month  Risilimn,  on  the  lOth 

day,     in  the  9th  year   of  Nabo- 

polassar. 
7  20  measures  for  taxes; 
S  85  measures  3  ka  Nabntabniri, 
9  5  measures  3  ka  Eterbel, 

10  the  wine ,  (paid); 

11  93  measures  3  ka   were  received  of 

Belapaliddin. 


TwdJ'Ui  Year  of  Nahopolassar.  83 


VI   uniifiiifii  ;{)[  md-si-fin  D'ui-nuft 
13   i-it>H-ti  i-tir 


12  Total:  204  niensnros,   Dinna, 

13  of  dates  Ktill  on  tlio  tree,   received. 


This  tablet  seems  to  be  a  momorandnm  kept  in  the  business  house  of  Dianfi.  Nabrt- 
pudea  owed  Dinna  twelve  nioasnros  of  dates,  which  ho  ought  to  h  ive  paid  in  the  harvest; 
and  Nabfishuniiddin  oweil  him  the  crop  of  dates  that  were  unripe  at  tlie  first  picking. 
Neither  of  these  debts  was  honored.  lint  Diiinfi  did  receive  the  204  measures  that 
were  due  him  from  other  creditors.  According  to  Peiser  a  Hia«i/*»(  is  equal  to  9  itfr; 
hence  the  fifth  sign  in  line  8  must  be  taken  as  3  instead  of  \,  in  order  to  make  the  total 
204  measures. 


NO.  II. 

OB  VEHSK 


.-      ^}     ^  .11     I     T^    ^      ►+     ^T 

RMVERSK 

:  -     Wl  ^TI      ¥      I   ^"^TII    \      S^-      ^m      "^   tX\] 

J  <tt  ^  ^  II  v^  ^11     ^IIIIHIIi 


84 


The  Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art. 


„T-  ^I  ^     2<l?    ^,©    ^T  <TT   ^ 
u  -^    <  TI  .  ^^     T  ^tycT  T?  ^ 


Tablet  brown;  ljx2  iiichcR,  reotnngnlar.  The  throe  loMrest  lines  of  the  obverse 
are  bndly  damaged.  The  two  right  corners  of  the  reverse  are  destroyed.  TIjo  clay  hM 
crnnibled  off  in  some  places,  rendering  decipherment  difHcnlt.  A  strait;ht  line  on  the 
lower  edge  divides  obverse  and  reverse. 


1  2  iiin-iiit  |[  m<t-mi  5  iiklu  hixinmi-lul-lii 

2  Mt  iiUn  ,SaiTUii  Him  *i7ii 

3  ilia  Hi  Nab(t-mui1ammi-ik 

4  <i)Hil-itu  i<t  Sa-Xiihfi-JiH-u  miir  (nwilin 

ri'ii 

5  nut  arufi  Ai^nrn  [iimn]  \  n-nn  StimaJi 

G  i-nam-din 

7  hin  infitizazn  ia  Jlil-nsnr  {tnnilxt  miiiujh 

Miirditk 

8  Mi'nu-it-a-mi-BU  iiiiir 

9  apal  Nftr-Mnnhtk^  liU.ih-ni 

10  ap<d  (nmlln)  miiiju  Sii)-itfir{ki)  Sanuii- 

nitr-ibui 

11  (iimI  Dan-niHian-n  Kudurru  fijxd  ?•*'« 

sisi 

12  n  (nmihi)  dnpsar  liil-idi-in apai {finiPn) 

kik'ni  in-bu-iu 

13  S'ip-pnr{ki)  arnh  Nisanmt  ftinn  12  kntii 

14  iidiu  12  kain  Xidn'i-apal-uxar 

15  iar  Babili^ki) 


1  2|  muna  5  shekolK  of  money,   tlie 

third  (loan?) 

2  which  (he  received)  from  Shamash, 

namely,  the  price  of  the  sheep, 
'A  to  be  received  from  Nabrimndammik, 
'1    the  sou  of  Shauabi'iKbri,    the  sou  of 

the  shephenL 
.*i   In  the  month  Adnrii,  on  tlie  first  day, 

to  Shamash 
G  he  will  give  (the  money). 

7  In  the  presence  of  Kelnsiir,  the  priest 

of  Marduk ; 

8  Minuanabel,  the  son  of , 

9  the  son  of  Nurmardnk;  Belibni, 

10  the  sou  of  the  priest    of  Sippara; 

Shamo-shnuribni, 

11  the  son  of  Dunuidaiia;  Kndtimi,  the 

horse  herdsman; 

12  and   the  scribe  Belnkin,  the  sou  of 

the  overseer  of  his  fruit  (Vj. 

13  Sippara,  in  the  mouth  Nisannn,  ou 

the  12th  day, 

14  in  the  12th  year  of  Nabopolassar, 

15  King  of  Babylon. 


Thirteenth  Year  of  Nahopolassar. 


85 


The  temple  of  the  sun-god  at  Sippara  had  sold  Nabunmdiiuimik  25  mana  5  shekels' 
-worth  of  sheep.  But  the  latter  had  not  paid.  He  therefore  makes  out  this  promissory 
note,  stating  that  he  will  pay  the  money  on  the  first  day  of  Adam  (March).  As  the 
tablet  mentions  no  interest,  Nabftnmdammik  seems  to  have  hud  the  use  of  the  money 
up  to  that  date  free. 

NO.  ^^. 

OH  VERSE. 


■  ef^^  ^  ^*I  <K  <^<  4i«  T- 
,  M.}  ^\  ^]  <  TIT  ^  -^  <  TTT  ^ 
,  -v^tTtT  T^  ^  t^ 


'T    ta 


.^\ 


T 
T 
TT 


'^T  3ET 


T     T 
T     T 


<T-  --^^T 
<T-  --f  T^  Tf 
<I-  t:<3<i  ►-f  T- 
<T^KrTH  <::^^T 
<  --T-  ®  ^-  >^  ^^ 

<y  -+  \y  Cr^tT  iz^] 

<V  --^  X<  V-  ^T  -fy 

<T--4-'A4f 

<T-  -+  :et<t  -et 

<T-  ^-T  Tf  <::^T 
<T^  «pTII  s^T 
<T-4-:ET:=^S?T^Tgl 


86 


The  Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art. 


Liiit'H  \H  and  19  are  fffaeah  iH-ifoud  thin  thirr  hitih  la  /<«•  no  imnw  Uiu-h. 

Tablet  of  r  mnnve  color;    l|X''t|  inches.     The  bottom  Ib  totally  effaced,  the  left 

corrur  pirticnlarly.     Tho  iovo)>cc  so  nis  to  Imvo  cantainptl  no  writin^^,  but  iik  the  upper 
part  iR  gone  there  may  have  been  a  few  lineK  there.     The  Kigns  are  rou(i;hly  made. 


1  nl/m  LV.NITA  mhl  Sip-jutrikx) 

2  <(rah  Aim  fnnn  I',)  Lain  miUit  lit  k-inn 

3  Kahu-apal-uHur  iarru 

4  «//»u   Sl'.r  nlpii    'IT.  h'Afj  jiln  {ilii) 

Saiiiai 

5  1  I'tlpuSl'.ri  1  \,i]i>ii  rr.h'AL\i.  n 

(ilii)  Ai 

6  1  I'M  1  I'M  ji'ii  'xnhti  (y)  (.•/.()  MK 

7  1  l"l  2  I"  I  ;».'u  urn  lilu)  MarihiU 

8  H  {llii)  Xtir-pa-ni-him 

9  1  ["I  1  ["!/'•"»  ('^"»  r,i^,iU,il 

10  ["I  1  ['1  ;'""('■/")  liiui  S}j>.}^ir(kD 

11  1  [ttlpn  'iV.KAL\p^.ii  [ilii)  HoiiDiuiuit 

12  1  1"]p<:m(i7.0'"^-/o 

13  II"]  P'<»  (t/w)  A-uuiii 

14  1 1'\  p:n  {Un)  na 

lo    1  ["]  p'n  (Uh)  In  SAL.  t.  PA  li.  IIA 

IG    pC.n  OTS.DA 

19    jifin  {Uii)  [A-tiii-ui\-{nm 

18  and  19  destroyed. 


1  (battle    (and)   sheep;  the  sacrifices  at 

Sippura. 

2  In  the  month  Aim,  on  the  13th   lay, 

in  the  l.'Uh  year  of 

3  Naboi>nlaSKar,  the  King. 

I    A cattle,    and  a cattle 

for  Shamash ; 
5   one one forthegodAi; 

C  one . . ,  one  for  tlie  de- 
welling  of  the  g04l  Me; 

7   one two for  the  temple 

of  Mardnk 

S  ami  Zarpanituni ; 

9  one one for  the  go«l 

Pnbelbel; 

10  one one    for  Belit  of 

Sippara; 

11  one for  the  go«l  Ramniftn; 

12  one for  the  god  Shaln; 

13  one for  the  j;od  Ann; 

14  one for  tlie  goil  Bel ; 

lo  one for  the  god  Ea ; 

IG    for ; 

17    for  the  goddess   (Aiinnitnm. 


This  interesting  tablet  gives  ns  the  list  of  offerings  presented  to  each  of  the  gods  in 
the  great  temple  of  the  sun-go<l  at  Sippara  on  the  i:jth  day  of  the  month  Airn  ( .May),  in 
the  13th  year  of  Nabopolassar.  The  headings  of  two  columns  are  given  in  line  4,  and  lines 
are  drawn,  just  as  we  do  to-day  in  onr  ledgers.  The  priest  evidently  kept  a  careful 
account  for  each  day.  Other  li.sts  of  the  same  character  are  Nos.  17,  2G,  etc.,  to  be 
published  in  Part  III. 


FourUentlt  Year  of  Nahopnlasxar 


87 


NO.  13. 

OH  VKRSK 

,  try  f  £^  5^5!  4-   .^T  ^  ^^fyy  ^.  ^  t|  «fe:|  I«< 

,  IT  <i-  :eTtt  ^  1 1  ^  I  ^Ar  ^y^  4i.4y  ji  -  <y- 
y  -J-  ^y  j.^  "^ 

,^  -m.  :=;  w  I-  y-  IT  <y-  y?  -^  <  jMi  w^y 

.  w  y-  y^l  -^  t  tyy  cr^y^y  ^tt  ^y  s^y  ^y  em  a 
i^  -  <y- 1  ^  ^  ^y  -ill 

:  y  "ti^  '^  jtii  w^y  ^^y.  <  jtii  w^y  f  ^ii 
y  >^  ^y-  A>yy  J^     :EyAy  :^^y  -^ 

7ir<r~yyrr~iyTrV^rTT^irTii 
s^y  t<r  em  H  ^--  <  y  s?=y  ^yii« 
y  <  v/  y- 1  y  <y-  yy  l-  «  w  iiiii 
-^:y  ^  y  -n  1 .7^  y^  ^  <yy  jml  nil 

lililifei    IT    ►^       '"*T       1      '^1^1    ►^<1    ^ 

REVERSE. 

I  iiii  *^<l  i  *r~ 


88 


The  Mttropolitan  Museum  of  Art^ 


.  in  ^T  .4  V  JMI  W^T  ner  <!I  JMI  W  ii  ^ 


16 


Tftblet  brown;  1§X24  inches.  Both  lower  cornera  of  the  obverse  are  broken  off. 
Tho  upper  riRht  portion  of  the  reverse  is  ghied  on.  Above  lino  18  the  nnmernl  for  14 
iK  written,  nnd  above  lino  17,  that  for  27.  These  figureK,  however,  fAii  have  no  moaning 
here.     Two  straight  lines  divide  the  text,  as  indicated. 


1  kUi'i  Ha   (aiiilhi)   iik-jxir   kltii  inn  kuiu 

(itiiiilu )  iiu-<iis-iinr{iii iM) 

2  Ml  alu  Jiil-lk-lji  ii-im-u  ihnntn 

8  2000  hnt  in  kitii  tut  1iil-nn*'nl  inn  ;>/<n 
SdiiHiH-nh'i-idiUn 

4  im  ilb-l>!  500 »!»-*'<  1000  [inl]  u-x/i  10 

mUIii  hdSf/t 

5  '»00   [m/-ii(]    A'/->/ti<  n  ijiir  siiliijiu  i-mu- 

n-ma 

6  liti-  hill  ;«iHi-xi(-)i«  l-li-lir 

7  1   vin-na  H  itkln  n-ili  \0  Miilii  kaitpi  m 

k![tfi] 

8  liil-m'ol  U-Ut-ilin 

9  2300  knt  ka  kitik  mi  7;f/-;r)(-[nul 

10    hil-haii    ii-fxt-'  n  /-/«- 

11  [mt  Uh-hl  10]75  VU.HH  1225  [hil] 

12    -In  Jin  Bil-iii-nu  a-va   12  Hihi 

[ka.tpi] 

13   a-na  Mjh/i*  il4a-din 

14  500  [rn/-*H]  pu-iit  zitli  ia  Su-ln-a  o-nn 

hi 7?(/-»((-jii( 

15  i    mn-»(i   4   «*/■/»(    kaspi  a  di  12  «///" 

Av».s[/</  «]-»>» 

IG  ««»«  A(/»  Jiil-.\ii-)iii  [H-iii-dinl 


15 


IG 


Liimon  of  the  weaver.   Linnen  into 

tlie  linnds  of  the  Stewarts 
<if  the  city  Belikbi,  he  bronght  for  a 

receipt  (?). 
2<KX)  kat  of  linnen,  which  I^elna'id  is 

to  receive  from  Shamashahiddiu; 
thereof  500  meshn,   lUOO  kat  for  10 

shekels  of  money, 
500  meshn  for  3  gur  <>f  dates   was 

the  Bam(?) 
that  he  paid  to  them. 
One  mana  H  shekels,  in  addition  to 

the  10  shekels  of  money  (paid)  for 

the  linnen, 
lielna'id  gave. 
2300  kat  of  linnen,  which  Belshnnn 

demanded,  and  Etn ; 

thereof  1075  meshn,  1225  kat, 
which     Belshnim    for    12 

shekels  of  money 
(bought),  to  Shamash  he  gave. 
500  meshn  for  the  joint  possession  of 

Shulii,  for  ,  Belshunn 

(acquired); 
^  mana  4  shekels  of  money,  in  addi- 
tion to  the  12  shekels  of  money, 

for 
the  price    of  the  linnen  Belshnnn 

(paid). 


SeventeenfJi  Year  of  Nabopolcissar.  89 

17  arah  Aim  uinii2G  kdin  Mta  \A  kam         I      17  In  the  month  Aim,  nn  the  26th  day 

j  iu  the  14th  year  of 

18  Xahu-apdl-umr  IS   Nahopolassar. 

A  weaver  brought  a  certain  amount  of  woven  liuueu  to  the  Stewarts  or  governors 
of  the  city  Belikbi.  This  the  latter  were  to  dispose  of  according  to  contract.  Therefore 
ISelna'id  gets  2000  kat.  It  seems  that  Shamashahiddin  must  have  been  the  weaver 
mentioned  in  line  1.  Of  these  2000,  1500  (if  we  make  a  mi-iia  equal  to  a  /'/<  in  vahie) 
cost  10  shekels,  and  the  remaining  500,  3  gur  of  dates.  But  to  this  amount  must  be 
added  the  8  shekels  that  Belna'id  had  already  paid,  perhaps  as  earnest  money. 

Then  there  were  2800  kat,  which  fell  to  the  share  of  Belshunu.  The  text  of  lines 
10,  1 1,  and  12  is  so  fragmentary  that  we  can  only  guess  how  this  liunen  was  paid  for. 
These  21)00  kat  were  divided  into  1075  meshn  and  1225  kat,  for  which  Belshunu  paid  12 
shekels  into  the  treasury  of  the  temple  of  Shamash.  Now  500  of  these  meslni  Belshunu 
seems  to  have  acquired  together  with  Shutla.  The  above  mentioned  12  shekels  were 
probably  the  commission  of  the  temple.  The  actual  price  Belshunu  paid  for  the  linncn 
was  J  mana  4  shekels,  in  addition  to  the  12  shekels  commission.  Hence  Belshunu  paid 
altogether  36  shekels  for  2300  kat  of  linuen,  while  Belna'id  paid  for  2000  kat  18  shekels 
and  3  gur  of  dates,  or  about  half  as  much.  The  latter  must  therefore  have  known  how 
to  drive  a  bargain,  or  must  have  bought  much  inferior  linncn. 

This  tablet  is  probably  dated  at  the  city  of  Belikbi,  some  rich  man,  who  called  the 
city  he  founded  by  this  name.     See  No.  7  of  this  part. 

NO.  14. 

O/i  VERSE. 

,<!-    ^    ,j4*^  i^^t.}  iM    tT    D    -7^ 

A}   ^     ^     -+    Vi   -^         >^    -% 
A      f  J  -+  I  ^  ^  <|^  y  ^]  .^  ^y 

.1111  f  T  ^I-  S3  -  <!-  !  1^  -+  ^I 


00 


The.  Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art. 


HE  V ESSE. 


^ 


Tablet  shading'  fruni  li^bt  to  ditrk  ({my;  1^  |  2  iucbes.  A  Htraigbt  Hue  is  drawn 
below  the  'MA  lint;.  TUu  nbveno  is  lindly  dniiiaged,  the  lower  left  corner  is  completely 
destroyed.  A  break  i>ccur8  iu  the  middle  of  the  npixir  edge.  The  right  side  shows  the 
marks  of  the  thumb  as  the  scribe  held  the  tablet  while  writing  upon  it.  The  upi>er  aud 
left  edges  tire  free  of  writing.     A  large  space  at  the  end  is  unused. 


1  idpa  Hin-maHH(inii)  ia  In 

2  p&n  {amilu)  ir-rii  (mii)  (wru)  gi-nu 

8  a-na  (nmilu)  [mnfju]  (llu)  A-nn  ua-<Vn 

4  litiu  m   Marduk-Uhliu    inn  jh'.n  AV/r- 

Snimii 

5    «»    Satwia-ttki)i-a/i J      inn   /$ '.n 

6    m   Mar-dnk    inn  p'n  [A'm]»- 

Sumui 

7  Man-nu-di-i-Xabfi 

8  [fra/tj  Abu  uihh  22  htm 

9  kittu  17  kani 

10    yabuHtpal-umr  intr  liabUi{ki) 


1  Cattle,  ill  great  numbers,  which 

2  by  tlie  gardeners  of  the , 

:;   were  given  to   the   (priests  ufi   (he 

god  Anu. 
4   ( >ue  (liead  of  cattle),  which  Mardiik- 

iddiu    has    received    from     Nur- 

shamush; 
't    which   Shamashukiuabi  ba^ 

received  from  Niirsbamasb; 
(i    ,   which  Marduk  h:»s  received 

from  Kiirshamash  (and) 

7  Mannudinabi'i, 

8  In  (he  month  Abu,   on  the  22nd  thiy, 
;t  in  the  17lh  year  of 

Ul  Nabopolassar,  King  of  Babylon. 


This  tablet  is  a  receipt  for  cattle,  ))robably  tithes,  rcceivc«l  by  the  priests  of  the 
temple  of  the  gotl  Anu.  Mardukiddin,  Shamasbukinabi,  and  Marduk  are  the  priests, 
Ni'irshamash  and  Manuudinabii  are  the  li(he-paycn>. 


Kini'lerntlt,  Vmr  of  Niiliopohmsnr. 


(11 


NO.  li). 

OB  VKUfiE. 

.f     -    -<    lU      Saf     frIT     ^T   <«  ^ 
,  ^  <  w  ^    I  «pf tit!  I?  *^  t£<  ^v  <^S:?  ^ 


J  V  - 

J  I-  - 

.^     IT    V    i 


TI       T     42^     4^     ^^     JT 

IT    !r+^'^^T 


I'l^*-''"' 


^ 


TT  <« 


Tablet  browii  aud  black ;  1x2^  inches.  The  four  edges  coutaiu  no  writiug.  'J'he 
reverse  is  erased  by  the  scribe,  as  lou^;  crossing  lines  show.  Lines  6  and  7  are  very 
lightly  nride,  and  it  sconis  that  they  just  escaped  the  destructive  stylus  of  the  scribe. 


1  sidiqiu  i-inil-la  i<n  ('.y?)  kiru  Ha  Suiii<(i< 

2  i«i  DU-b(it{ki)  urah  i'iulu  iiina  30  ktiin 

3  kitta     19    kaiiL    Xahii-aijul-ufiur     mi' 

BabUi{k.i) 

4  101  <jur  Uh-hi-i-(i 

5  101  gur^Sn»Mii-iri-u 

6  napharh  202  (/in'  sulupu 

7  In  ijai:t-ru-(n 


1  D.ites,    still  hanging  on  the  tree,  of 

the  garden  of  Shamash, 

2  at  Dilbat.      In  the  month  Ululu,  on 

the  30th  day, 

3  in   the  19th   year  of  Nabopolassar, 

King  of  Babylon. 
•1    101  gur  Uhhea  (received); 

5  101  gur  Shawasheresh  (received); 

6  Total  202  gur  of  dates 

7  altogether  (were  sold). 


The  tablet  explains  itself.  The  temple  of  Shamaah  at  Dilbat  sold  202  measures  of 
dates  to  two  persons;  and  this  is  a  memorandnm  of  that  fact.  Dilbat  is  a  place  occur- 
ring in  almost  every  tablet  of  Peiser's  "Keilschriftliche  Acten-Stiicke  aus  Babyloniscben 
Stadten. " 


92 


The  Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art. 


NO.  4«. 

<JB  VERSE. 

,<<<    «     CrTI     <^    4-     iii:^      iJI       IIIIBIII 

,<6?-^  T^\  ::::-?  T!  :H  -f  ^T  TJ  ^  ^  TT  & 

T    tl  <!►  A 

,1?  ^   -  rf-T  ^-Tli!  4v 

,-    r--!   £TT    f    !   -»    <sJ!    t^    SIT    <:^ 


rt'i  jC^V  ix-.  fes^  JSN,  j^X^' 


RE  VERSE. 

„  ^  -^  T^I  -^  T  «tTtTtT  ^^  ^il  ^  in  II 
„T  H  --^MMl  V^S^^'A^}  IHIIiili 


Third  Year  of  Nabonidtis. 


\)\\ 


,.►¥  in  ^i^   I  -^titi 


<x 


-^    ll3 


Tablet  diirk  gray;  lJX'2i  iucbes.  The  upper  edge  of  the  obverse  is  destroyed,  and 
the  surface  is  niiirred  iu  various  places  as  is  indicated  above.  The  reverse  is  tolerably 
well  preserved.  Edges  free  of  writing,  except  that  the  name  or  the  river  in  line  3,  is 
upou  the  right  edge.     The  Kigns  arc  large  and  plain. 


1  44  U'lr  Sl.BAJi ra 

2  I.DUP   m    Arad-yabii    itiKil-in    iac 

Xabu-  

3  id-tii  hubuni  .uni  SiiiiMti  <i-ili-i  ijiCira) 

Xi'ku-di 

4  ina   Hi  Ariid-X(.ibu  aixd-m  m  Xabu- 

zir-ibid 

5  ina  ki-it  ki  arah  [Abu]  inabUl  (anUlH) 

rub  (viii) 

6  ina  ina-si-hi  ki  lli-[nud\  ((pnl  Mi-pi-i 

4  iiM-ii-hi 

7  a-na  1  tjur  i-nam-din. 

8  ina  manzazit  hi  Nir'ial-.vtr-inil-lit 

9  (amUu)  /ci-t-/*t  «a  BIT.  TU  my 


10  Ma-si-ub-Mardnk      (aniilu)     mnijn 

Sip-par(ki) 

11  {amilu)  mu-kin-na  Xabu-zir-lliir  ap<d- 

hu  \sa\ 

12  Bakitu  (am'du)  pa-ii-ki 

13  apal-ha  ha  Sa-la-a  apal  IddiH-Miiv[duk] 

14  Ma-ra-nu  apal-m  m  La-utt-aiui-nurC 

15  apoi    Sa-)ia-si-«>t    a    (amdu)    dupsur 

Arad-BU 

1 6  apul-m  ki  Nabu-ahi-iddin  apal  (amUit) 

pa-U-ki 

17  Sip-pQr{ki)  arah  Nisannu  iimu  25  kam 


1  44  gur  of  grain,    

2  Ihe  amount  (?),  which  Aradnabn,  the 

son  of  Nabii ,  (in  the  space) 

3  from  the  two  sheep-gates  of  Shanmsb 

to  the  i-iver  Nikudi, 

4  from  Aradnubtt,    the  son   of  Nabil- 

ziribni,  is  to  receive. 

5  At  the  end  of  the  month  Abu,  iu  the 

honse  of  the  chiefs, 
(j  according  to  the  measure  of  Kimut, 
the  son  of  Mipi,  (that  is,)  4  meas- 
ures 

7  as  one  gur,  he  will  give 

8  in  the  presence  of  Nergalsbarmillit, 
0  the  guardian  of  the ,    the  son 

of (and) 

10  Mushezibmarduk,    the  priest  of  Sip- 

para. 

11  Witnesses:  Nabuzirlishir,  the  son  of 

12  Balatu,  the ;    , 

13  the  son  ofShula,    the  son  of  Iddin- 

marduk ; 

14  Muranu,  the  son  of  Liisu nan  lire, 

15  the  son   of  iShanashishu ;    and   the 

scribe  Aradbel, 
IG  the  son  of  Nabuahiddin,  the  son  of 

the 

17   Sippara,  in  the  month  Nisannu,  on 

the  25th  day, 


94  Tlie  Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art. 

18  mUa  3  kam  Xabfi-)iu*id  »nr  JiuhiU(ki)  18   in  the  3rd  year  of  Nubonidus,  King 

I  of  Babylon. 

Aradnabii  is  to  receive  41  gur  of  grain  from  his  namesake  in  the  month  Abu 
(August),  and  at  a  place  soniewlierc  between  the  two  gates  of  the  Sliamash  temple, 
called  the  sheep-gates,  and  the  river  Nikudi.  Here  in  one  of  the  government  agencies, 
the  second  Aradnabii  (the  two  are  distinguished  by  the  names  of  their  fathers)  will 
measure  out  the  44  gur,  using  the  measure  of  a  person  named  Rimut  as  a  standard. 
Four  of  these  standard  measures  shall  be  considered  the  eiiuivalent  of  one  gur.  At  the 
measuring  of  the  grain  Nerg:ilsharuiillit  and  Mushezibmurduk  will  be  present  to  see 
that  the  measuring  is  done  honestly.  The  contract  Wiiu  made  in  the  month  Nisannn 
(.\pril),  and  hence  had  four  months  to  run. 

NO.  47. 

on  VRRSR. 

.^  5^-  iU  H  If  -^  T  ^11  -y 

,-    tv<T   lETT     T   -mi:    ti    y 
»I?  I    Y 

]{EVEJ{SF!. 

.<%  \'^}  tm    "M.}  itii 

t^}    --f     gl     ^ 


Fourth   Year  of  Nabiynidns. 


95 


Tablet  gray  with  uumerous  black  spots;  IjXl^  inches.  The  lower  right  corner 
of  the  obverse  is  tlattened  down,  thus  destroying  part  of  two  witnesses'  names.  The 
reverse  is  perlect. 


1  mn-kur-ra  na  Xabii-iitiiu-uklin 

2  i-bn-ra-ina  a-iia  liil-Uliliu 

3  n-na  1  tiiklu  kaspi  id-dhi-nn 

4  ina  manzazn  Btl-iki-m 

5  ajHil-su  m  Nir<jnl 

6  I-lu-i-pu-[uJ«] 

7  Ri-mut 

8  BabUu(ki)  artih  Ululn 

9  umu  15  kam  mltii  3  kum 

10  yabii-nd'id  kir 

1 1  BabiU{ki) 


1  The  nicrchandise,  which  Nabi'ishum- 

iddiu, 

2  namely  the  harvest,    to  Deliddin 

3  for  one  shekel  of  money  gave, 

4  In  the  presence  of  Belikisha, 

5  the  son  of  Nergal 

0  Iluipush,  (and) 

7  Rimut. 

8  Babylon,  in  the  month  UIulu, 

9  on  the  15th  day,  in  the  3rd  year  of 

10  Nabonidus,  King  of 

1 1  Babylon. 


This  tablet  is  a  receipt  pure  and  simple.  Nabiishumiddiu  sold  one  shekel's  worth  of 
produce  to  Beliddin,  and  gave  him  this  receipt  for  his  money. 

NO.  48. 

OB  VERSE. 


TTT 

1  n 


Y    ,<<< 


;i  <v  ^i;   w  '^    ^  ^»J   -f  lili 


II!  ^i  <i-  -II  f ;;?  :ei  t^'^  ^t  f 


.  f  <  EE  :eiai  -ii<i  f  s^i  --I- 1?  -r  .,!k  ^% 

.<  -+  <-t  -^I  I?  ^  I  -+  <:^^I  -^  -^ 

.II  EI  <^  -II  ^  ^  +  i!D  ^%  f  m}  iiiti 

,1?^  <:::<ItI  I^-+«JI  I^^I«II^?S:? 
,1?     I  ^^tlrrl  ^^    i^\  <I-     -     tn     ^5  -f 


96 


Tlie  Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art. 


10 


^  £^T  ^  I-   f  f  n-}  :eT  I  4f^  t<TT  < 

.Ji?  s  ^^  +  Tf  -^    t^t^  ]^  m  w- 


^y   <y^    .y:     tt    ^     +    ij:py   -;£ 

■C.T  -y  gl   v^    T?    T  :5j  ^T  r-^T  T  ^^  ^? 
,.3<i?    :e&    ^T  tit  ^^    "^  V  '^<^ 

Tablet  light  brown;  ljx2i  inches.  The  clay  has  cnuiibled  off  in  hiiumtouk  places. 
The  right  upper  corner  of  the  obverse  is  destroyetl,  tiiul  a  large  crack  divides  the  upper 
portion  of  the  reverse,  on  the  right  side,  from  the  rest  of  the  tablet.  The  writing  is 
tolerably  distinct     The  left  and  the  upper  edges  are  free  of  writing. 


1« 


TTT 


15 


1  5  ma-ii-h  u  St.  li  A  li  i'na  vuii-ki  |  r-/«  mi  ] 

2  id  aruh    Aha   .sultu   4   kitiu   La-a-lni- 

[5.J 

3  3  ma-isi-hii   'sa  6  Im-U-lmn  in 

4  ha  16  i{{l)-ri  sa  biti  {ilu)  A-nu-ni-tuiu 

5  It  {ilu)   Gu-la  n-na  Manhik-ium-iddin 

6  2  ma-fii-h  n   i-na  vias-iar-tatn  ia  aruh 

[A]bu 


1  5  measures  of  grain  nt  the  end 

2  of  the  month  Abu,  of  the  4th  year, 

Labashi  (will  givei: 

:i  li  measures  with  6  talents  of 

....  (and) 

4  with   16 for  the  temple  of  the 

goddess  Anunitum 

5  and  the  goddess  Gula,   to  Mardnk- 

shumiddin  (he  will  give). 

6  2  measures,  at  the  end  of  the  month 

Abu, 


FourtJi  Year  of  Nahonidus. 


97 


7  u-wi     Hi     \(i*id-Mardiilc    Ln-n^-ano- 

nih'-i 

8  <tpal  \(ihi%zlr-(i(tl-fim  1  rjnr  st.  HA  li 

9  L  U.N  IT  A    ki-iiil.    .id   fi(i-fam-ni<t    di- 

inil-u  % 

10  ma  klita  Ba-ln-tn-ina  l-nam-iVm 

11  Ba-la-tn  ^£.BAR-.m  i-flr 

12  +  2  pi  St.BAR  n-na  ht-nr-rn-hn 
lii  m  n-su-hu 

14  5  mn-si-hu  i-na  nuiH-mr-htm 

15  ia  nrah  Aim  mltu  4  knm  n-na 

16  Mtt-ra-nn  afxil  Lh-iim  nnn-nftr-i 

17  Si.BAR  biti   /iiit.l   J^inntiN-irha  kahlt 

aipi. 

18  (ii'tih  Xls(()i)iit  frniH  P.  l:am  mitu  4  k(nn 

VJ    Xahii-vn^iil  wr  Bahiti{k-'i) 


7  on  tho  nccouut  of  N'a'idiimnlnk,  Liis- 

onaniire, 

8  the  son  of  Nabuzirgnllini,  (will  give), 

1  gtir  of  grain, 

9  sheep,  wholesonio  flour  (?)   Gimilln 

10  into  the  Imuds  of  Rnlatn  will  give: 

11  Halfttn  has  roceived  Lis  grain. 

12  f-  2  pi  of  grain  for  the  offering 

13  of 

14  5  measures  at  the  end 

15  of  the  month  Abu,  of  the  4th  year,  to 
1(5  Miiranu,  tho  son  of  Lusunannre,  (lie 

will  give): 
17    the  grain  isto  ho  received  of  Shaniash- 

iiba  at  the  house  of  the  cattle. 
IS  In   tho  month  Nisamiu,   on  the  3rd 

day,  in  the  4th  year  of 
It)   Nahonidns,  King  of  Bal)yU)n. 


This  tablet  is  evidently  a  .statement  containing  the  debts  of  Labfishi,  Lusananure 
and  Gimilln.  Very  likely  this  statement  was  issued  by  seme  agent,  through  whose 
hands  the  merchandise  and  the  money  had  to  pass. 


NO.  49. 

OB  VERSE. 

f  ;h  ^.  ^  ^l  ^I- 


.11 


<T-  -+  T?  Ill 


6  ^^^^^^^^      p1*t\         1      ^^^^^^ 


<T-   H-  s: 


98 


The  MetTopolltan  Museum  of  Art. 


tiiiifc    J4i      J&L.       1 

mil  -+  <^^ 

<T-  -f  111  *  >iK  ^^ 
<T-  --f  ^<  I-  ^T  ^ 

,.:si  ^T  :^v  }tt: 


<    ►►^   IS 


<« 


RKVKHSR. 


10 


^gy   ^f   :ev    ^tt 


...,^      ^I      ^T-      ^CrC: 

.,  ?      ^!    i^?    -flff    ^      -f   TT 


Fourth  Year  of  JVab<midtis. 


96 


.]  ^i  <  f  mm 


„  SS?  -^IT  ^I  « TT  ^\ 


88ii<  T  iii    I  ^i-I«-i  iii 


29 


i^  ^  ^j^{  hs 


Tablet  light  brown;  l8X2i'  inches.  The  surface  has  crumbletl  away  in  ninny 
))laces,  and  thus  the  tablet  is  in  a  very  bad  condition.  The  best  rendering  possible  is 
given  below. 


1  [€tlp]u  in  »ini  LI'.  TV.  KA L 

2  pun  (ilu)  i^mm 

3  alpu  m  .nnl  LV.  TV.  KAL 

4  pan  {ilu)  A-[num] 

5  [alpu  kt  Sim]  L  C.  TV  [  KA  L\ 

6  j>an  (ilu)  Mar[(luk] 

7  \alpu  sa  .H] nl  L  U.  TV.  KA  [  /,  | 

8  [p^ri]  {ilu)  Marduk 

9  pun  (Ilu)  [Zar]-pa-ni-lum 

10  alpu  hi [L]U.  TV.  KA  L 

11  p!in  (ilu)  Bilii-mi-tu-ka 

12  LU.TU.KAL.LUM 

13  p.wi  (ilu)  Rammanu 

14  LU.TU.KAL.lv 

15  pun  (ilu)  A-[7ni]in 

16  u  (ilu)  Bd 

17  LU.TU.KAL.LUyr 

18  pun  (ilu)  mariiti  hit  TU  KA  L 

19  LU.TU.KAL.LUM 

20  [pun]  (ilu)  OAR 

21  LU.TU.KAL.LUM 

22  p!jn  (iiu)  A-nu  7}.i-hnn 
2]  tin  S}ppnri(ki)  iUjni  kirut 

24  1    LU.NITA  Nir<jal(?)-ukin-vn-hnhthi 

25  1  nlpu  u  3  sini 

26  Nabit-u-U-zih  it-ta-din 


1  Cattle,  namely sluep, 

2  for  the  god  Shamash. 

3  Cattle,  namely sheep, 

4  for  the  god  Ann. 

")   Cattle,  namely sheep, 

G  for  the  god  Marduk. 

7  Cattle,  namely sheep, 

8  for  the  god  Marduk  (and) 

9  for  the  goddess  Zarpanitiim. 

10  Cattle,  namely , 

1 1  for  the  goddess  Belitmetuka. 

12    

13  for  the  god  Ramman. 

14    

15  for  the  god  Ann. 
IG   and  the  god  Bel. 

17    

ly  for  the  gods,  the  daughters  of  the 
house  of 

19      

20  for  the  god  Gar. 

21    

22  for  the  goddess  Anunitum 

23  of  Sippnra:  two  goddesses. 

24  One  sheep  Nergalukinnabalatu  (gave). 

25  One  head  of  cattle  and  3  sheep 
2G  Nabi'ishezib  gave. 


100 


The  Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art. 


2^    arah  Saiitnia  tnna  22  k[ujn] 

28  [mltu]  4  [kam]  Xahft-[na*id] 

29  [«]«»•  BtMUikl) 


27  lu  the  luontb  Samna,   ou  the  23rd 

28  in  the  4tb  year  of  Naboaidus, 

29  King  of  Babylon. 


'Ibis  <ablut  gives  us  a  list  of  tbe  offeriugs  made  to  tbe  ^ods  at  Sippara  in  tbe  great 
temple  of  tbe  san-god  on  tbe  22ud  day  of  the  month  Sammi  (November),  in  tbe  4tb 
year  of  Nabonidus.  Besides  tbe  regular  offerings,  Nergnlukiunubnlatu  and  Nabi'isbezib 
seem  to  have  made  sacrifices. 

Tbe  break  on  tbe  tablet  at  Ibe  end  of  line  27  shows  indistinct  traces  of  the  sign  i, 
and  hence  I  have  placed  this  tablet  among  those  of  Nabonidus,  rather  than  among 
those  of  Nabopolussar,  to  whose  reign  most  o(  the  tablets  of  this  class  must  be  referred. 


A 

J 


NO.  50. 

OB  VBH8E. 

^    <:?-!    ^?    m 

HH  VKRSK. 

I   9^     T   --f   <tTT   ►¥-    ^ 


Serienth  Year  of  Kabonidvs. 


101 


Tablet  light  gmy;  11x1  J  inches.  The  first  line  of  the  oliverse  is  totallj' eHnce()^ 
likewise  the  upper  left  comer  of  the  reverse.  The  tablet,  ou  the  whole,  is  very  much 
damaged. 


2  \ln,nl-u-kin 

3  apal  (/■//')  IlUtt-u  \(i-nd\ 

4  BU-iddin  apal 

5  Sfig-gil-ni 

G   ina  ttrnh  Takrllu  %-nam-dm 

7  [{amiln)  mu-ki]n-nu  KirgaUmm-ihui 

8  [<ip<d-m-m'\    Nnhu-sum-iddin     xpol 

Arad-BH 

9  Nabii-halaf-sti  ik-h!  apal-iu  m 

10  Marduk-irha  apal  Iddin-Marduk 

11  II  {(tniUu)  dapsai'   BU-idd'm  (tpid-ku  m 

Ki-fiir-Mtdm 

12  B(thibi{ki)  urnh  Aim  mnu  22  kam 

13  mtiii  5  Ayhh  NahH'na*ld 

14  ^rt»'  Bnhili(ki) 


2  Nergnlnlcin, 

3  the  son  of  Eliatn,  (to) 

4  Beliddin,  the  son  of 
r»  Saggilai, 

fi  in  the  month  Tashritn,  will  give. 

7  Witnesses:  Nergalshumibni, 

8  the  son  of  NabOshnmiddin,   the  son 

of  Aradbel; 

9  Nabubalntsnikbi,  the  son  of 

10  Mardiikirba,  the  son  of  Iddinmarduk : 

11  and  the  scribe  Beliddin,   the  hod  of 

Kisirnabu. 

12  Babylon,   in  the  month  Aim,  on  the 

22nd  day, 

13  in  the  5th  year  of  Nabonidus, 

14  King  of  Babylon. 


This  tablet  is  a  regular  promissory  note.     Nergaliddin  promises  to  give  to  Beliddin 
either  money  or  some  commodity  in  the  month  Tashritu  (October). 


NO.  51. 


OB  VERSE. 

.■■■I  ^  -^  M?  ►+  I  ^  -^-^-^  11 


^!  I  ^  ^^  +  fl<i  A  -^!  T  :ew<  *  yn 


102 


The  Mttropolitan  MtLseum  of  Art. 


^ 


5  77ii«  /t/w  ix  rniHi-d  /»(/  </(»■  strilif. 


8  ^  Wl^ 


18  $ 


About  tiro  liiUH  on  Iht-  olfterBr,    and  tiiu  oh  thr  rerrrae  are  broken  off 

RKVKRSK. 

15  jjj$s$ss$ji§5s§j5  1  It  IT  IT  ►^  \»-  i^l  -o^  "-I    ^^  J  \  *iti     *n^m 

16  s^5$sss5$5^    <<   *T    A     1    ►   I      ■t     1       1       IT    ►^    \»-  |.-| 


5S!!Sm?i!!§^m 


18$ 


19 


»-^?= 


Tablet  light  brown;    13x2}  inohea.     A  fmgiuent.     All  fonr  edges  are  broken  ofiF. 
The  sigus  nre  plain  and  well-made. 


1    (7i-<?i     ml.a.an     Ittl-yahu- 

\balatu\  


1    (gur  of  measured  grain  ?)   100 

each  Ittiuabubalatu    


Seventlt  Year  of  Nahonidus. 


loa 


'^  f/'"  1  i""  >^t  BAli  ri-hUf,i  |  2  giir,  1  pi  of  ^»rmn,  llierdmain- 
Pii-wi-Jd/)  [                  iier,  risbsliadup, 

8  (t-t?/  nrah    Tibiln  hhUh  Q  kam    Auhi'i-  :',   until  tho  month  Tehilu  of  the  6tb 

"«  '«  ""»■'■'<  year  of  Nahonidus  the  King,  (will 


4   30  ;/«>•  hWh  hit  buMu  arnh  Tihilu  knttn 


give). 


d  28  rpir  3  /)('  »»*rt  /(j/  limn  ariifi 

7    (pir   iua  kfitii    Sohii-hnm-UUli 

8  ......  kfispv  in  ka 


13    Nahii-fjtib-zu  ii-iU   iiinn   

14    hi-tnl-'inl  hid  S<tptk-zlr 

15    At  ana  Hi  pi-i  m  IUi-y(i\hu- 

hnlntu] 

1(1    -fni  SI  BA  li-m  Arad-  Oula  a-na 

ilipLi  m  Jtt'f\  Nahii-hnlatn] 

17  [arafi]  Xlsaymii  umn  7  kam  xattu  7 

k[am'\ 

18  [ Nah]fi-na''ul  kir  Babill  [(kl)]    


■f  TO  gur  Iroui  the  storehouse  in  the 
month  Tebitu  of  the  (ith  year,  (he 
will  give). 

Line  5  is  erased. 

G  28  pur  3  pi  into  the  storehouse,  in 
the  month (he  will  deliver). 

7    gar  from  the  hands  of  Nab  ft- 

shnmiddin  (he  will  receive). 
I        8    money  of 

Four  or  more  lines  are  broken  off. 

13    Nabiigabzu  until  the day 


19   imn 


14    sustenance  of  the  house  of 

Hhapikzir 

15    Ai,  according  to  the  word  of 

Ittinabiibalatu,  (took), 

16    his of  his  grain  Arad 

gula    according    to  the  word  of 
Ittinabiibalatu  (took). 

\7   In  the  month  Nisannu,   on  the  7th 

day,  in  the  7th  year  of 
18  Nabu-na'id,  King  of  Babylon. 


19 


The  defective  condition  of  this  fragment  will  allow  me  only  to  make  a  suppo.siticn 
in  regard  to  the  subject  matter  of  the  text.  Ittinabiibalatu  seems  to  have  been  the 
overseer  of  some  public  gran;u'y.  He  is,  in  the  first  place,  to  receive  100  gur  each  from 
certain  persons,  and  then  he  is  to  mete  these  out  again  in  the  month  Tebitu,  but  in 
smaller  amounts  each.  Whether  the  same  persons  that  gave  the  grain  are  to  receive 
part  of  it  back,  paying  the  ivmaiuder  for  the  use  of  the  storehouse  or  whether  the  givers 
and  the  receivers  are  different  persons,  our  fragmentary  text  does  not  state.  At  least, 
it  is  certain,  according  to  lines  15  and  IG,  that  Ittinabi'ibalatu  was  an  authoritative 
person,  and  that  his  word  had  some  weight  in  the  management  of  the  granary. 


104  The  Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art. 

NO.  5«. 

on  VERSK. 

,^    :f^  .4.  ^  ^    ^    5^^ 

.^    ^<xT::T    T-lElIf  ^T<y-    TM    ¥    T  ^, 
J?     T   5=TtI   ATT^    TM?     <     I   ^T   4i-- 
.in   v   T  ^•=^tTcT  -?    If   T  i^\  -iiiiili 

J60Mt  oiu!  /tNf  OH  thf  ubvfm;  and  our  on  Ihe  ret'eme  art  bruktn  off. 

REVERSE. 

.„!  \n\\  <T-  ill    Ti    ^    yn    ^+  ^< 

Tublet  light  giuy,  a  fnigiuent;  1x1}  inches.    The  bottom  is  broken  off,  destroying 
two,  possibly  more,  lines.   The  signs  are  plain,  thongh  well-worn  away. 

1  hin  n-(tn-tim  (mjw)  5a  M.BAR  I  1   Upon  the  certificates  for  grain, 

2  m   Jiilnhtilli-it    ajxil-xit    iai    l)hi-nn-n      \  2  belonging   to  Belaballit,    the  son  of 

<»/)/</  I-ti-rn  Dinuu,  the  son  of  Et4>ru. 

3  m  hia  Hi  lAt-a-liu->n  ufxil-tiii  id  liahitu  3   which  is  to  be  received  of  Labashi, 

1  the  son  of  Balatu, 


Ninth  Year  of  Nabonldus.  106 


•1  npnl  Snij-tjil-id  n  Tn-'  4   tbo  hou  i)f  Sn^^illai,  uuil  of  Tu', 

5  ai>nl-iii m  Xahu-ifi'r  updl  I /r-h[i]-  ....  5  thosouof  NubiioU'r,  tbusuu  cif  Ikbi  . ., 

Two  or  iin)re  Hues  aro  clcstrojo»l. 

8  Zu-kir  iipul !        ^   Ziikir,  the  son  of  

9  (aiiiilu)  dnpsar  Ni-ki(-tiu  ttiial-Hn  lilt  '        9   Scribe:  Nikudu,  the  sou  of 

10  TA-Ht-rn  ai>al  {ainUn)  kiDuiii  Bit 

11  Bnbilu(ki)  arah  Ahii 

12  umn  11  knm  tmllii  9  kuin 

13  Ndhu-na'id  sar  BabUi{ki.) 


10  Lishirii,  the  son  of  the  priest  of  Kol. 

1 1  Babylou  iu  the  month  Abu, 

12  on  the  11th  day,  in  the  Dth  year  of 

13  Naboiiidus,  King  of  Babylon. 


Beluballit  has  in  his  po.ssession  certificates  entillitig  him  to  a  certain  (piantity  of 
grain  from  Labashi  and  Tu*.  He  now  proceeds,  on  the  strength  of  these,  to  take  part 
of  his  possessions,  and  this  tablet,  duly  inscribed  with  the  fuct,  is  then  given  to  the 
two  latter  persons. 

NO.  53. 

OB  VERSE. 

,  i^  ^  I  ►¥  ^-f  <:r:^!  in  y  I  EI  ?  inn -^f --f  <« 
.H4ii  ^  V-  "EI  Vi  :eii  -^'  ^  i^  ^  ^ 

.r  "^  EEE  ^^  V,^  <:EltI4i  rilllEi^^T 
,I^^I<I-fI  t^-I-JJ^IEl  W^lT^^-iU 


1""  The  Metropolitan  Museum  uf  Art. 


.  JJ^  1=5  tD  ^I  w  ^T  I^  ^   :e|  ^  -TI<I  sTtT 

„illT    CR^T    t<gW^T    V  iU  '^I     1^  <^^  <%^^ 

REVERSE. 

,.Tf.ar  T>¥>«f  <C3n!?I  <  T:ET?TMn::f-^«< 

..^;iatt  *^  ^^  ^T  -u  -t:  -t:  tf??  t?-  ^  7^ 

^I  c^  c???  ^I 

.T  V  -^  in  *  T  -^  J-^  I?  T <I- 1:-^  rf-T? T?  • 
....  T  ^11  -I!^  T?  I  f  T  7^^  ^  I?  T  ^  S:!  If  n 
«  <Vm  £^  yn.  I  "pytTtT  ts?:!  v^^  If  I  i^  T  :eT  v  f  IT 


Ninth  Year  of  Nabouidus. 


107 


24 


LEFT  ^IDE. 

It  T  ::5  T  1^  Sr-t  ^1  t=<E  tT-^.!;  Tllili«i 


:!:  t-  ET!  V  !  ->f  <:=!^T  -^  ^\  TM  :e 


Trtblet  dark  browu;  l|x28  inches.  The  tablet  is  in  jiorfect  condition,  with  (he 
exception  of  the  lower  part  of  the  left  edge,  where  the  signs  are  very  blurred.  The 
right  edge  is  covered  by  the  signs  of  lines  prolonged  from  obverse  and  reverae,  with  the 
exception  of  the  upper  part  which  is  free  of  wedges,  and  which  contains  the  number  of 
the  tablet. 


1    Xii-ur-S(iiii(iJ<  n  Mu-si-zib-Xabu  {(imilu) 

la-mu-ia-na 
'2  m   yi-din-ttint  apal-mL    m   yabii-kn" 

««!(?•  a-Hd  2  ma-mi  10  siklu  kaspi 

3  rt-na  Iddin- Marduk  (tpal-hx  ia  Iki-hi- 

apla  apal  Nur-Hin 

4  nl-tn    arah    Tah'ihi    m  iidin  8   kaiii 

Nnlm-na'id  mr  liabiU{ki) 

5  id-di-nu-nux  a-da-an-nu  u-di  ki-il  ka 

arah  Ulida 

6  »(t  satlu  0  kam  a-na  Hi  ik-ku-nH-ma 

7  a-da-an-ha  i-U-ik-»m  knapu  m  i-li-nx 


8  i.?   i-hi  Xi-dbi-tiini  a-na  Iddin-Marduk 

9  ik-hi  ani'inn  kaspn  a-na  i-tiri-ka 

10  III  i-hi  Xur-Sniuak  h  Mn-ki-zih- Snhu 

11  |«-J>]ft  duppi  kind  fjam-ru-ta  a-bu-uk 

12  yi-din-tum  apal-m  ha  Nabu-g^r-mnr 

13  ina  huicd  lib-bi  iu  Xu-ur-§amai 

\i  u  Mu-ii-zih-Nabu   a-na   2   nui-iM   10 
iUdu,  kaspi 


1  Niir^humash  and  ^lushcioibnabu,  the 

servants, 

2  whom  Nidiutum,  the  sou  of  Nabii- 

sharusnr,  for  2  mana  10  shekels  of 
money 
o  to  Iddinmarduk,  the  son  of  Ikishapla, 
the  sou  of  Nurain, 

4  from  the  month  Tashritu  of  the  8th 

year  of  Nabonidiis,  King  of  Baby- 
lon, on, 

5  gave;  and  the  term  (of  payment)  till 

the  end  of  the  month  Uluhl 

6  of  the  9th  year  on  his  account  be  set. 

7  His  term   (of  payment)  had  passed 

away,   and   the  money  which  ho 
should  pay 

8  there  was  not.      (Then)  Nidintum  to 

Iddinmarduk 
i)   said  "(Since)  money  for  thy  payment 
(to  me) 

10  there  is  not,  Nurshamash  and  Mushe- 

zibnabu 

11  fur  a  tablet  of  the  ftill  price,    I  will 

bring;  (which  tablet  shall  say) 

12  'Nidintum,  the  son  of  Nabiishai-usur, 

13  of  his  own  free  will,  Nurshamash 

14  and  Mushezibnabu   for  2   mana   10 

shekels  of  money. 


108 


The^  MetropoliUui  Museum  of  Art. 


15  a-iui  Iddin-Marduk  uihU-ku  ia  Jkl-iti-  1 5 

nplit  ajtal  NuT'Siu 

16  id-ilbi pa-ul  si-hu-hn-ii  iHt-ki-na  nrxd-  Hi 

har-H-tii 

17  '(    mlr-liauu-lu   i<a   Hi    yur-S>iiwti    n  17 

Mu-iC-zih-Nnhii 

18  «'t  ti-U  yi-din-tam  tui-ii  {unutu)   mii-  18 

kin-na 

19  lj<i-<l-ha'ii      iipiU'iii  itt  Du-inuk     (/y»<i/  19 

20  Sukin-intn   ainU-iin  tin   .S"/(t-'<*«/-  nintl  2U 

21  JiU'inujitiUim    itind-im  kn  Xiri-ia    iifxit  "Jl 

22  H  (itinUu)  dupaar  yahb-mpik-zir  mutl-  22 

««  »a  Bti-Utt-sH 

23  «t7»<ti  Tnk-pi-i  Hnh'dH(ki)  unifj.  Tnknln  23 

f'/t/ta  10  A'fxt 

24  «!««  y  Aram  AViW-r't'U  iar  JinhUi(ki)  24 

2."i   iwt  a-i<i-bl  in  t-lm4um  >(«Mt/t-«ft 20 


20   nuinU-mi     kn     Mniilnk-kain-ibni    mud 


20 


to  Iddiuiuardnk,   the  sou  uf  Iki- 

sbapla,  the  bou  of  NtirsiD, 
gave.     Againht  flight,    reclaiuiiug  b,v 

the  seller,  rticlaiiuiug  by  the  kiug'n 

officer, 
aud  previous  adoptiou,  which  about 

Nurshaiuiihh  aud  Mushe2ibiiabii 
uiight  arise,   Nidiutum   will  be  re- 

Kpousiblu.'  "    Witnesses: 
Lnbashi,  the  sou  uf  Duuiuk,    the  kou 

of  Saggillai ; 
Shakinshuni,   the  sou  of  Bhumiisur, 

the  hou  of  Shigiia; 
liulmusalliui,    the  sou   uf  Ziria,    the 

SOD  of  Nashuai; 
aud   the  scribe   Nabushnpikzir,    the 

sou  of  Balat«u, 
the  sou  of  TukiM'.      Babylon,    in  the 

mouth  Tashritu,  uu  the  10th  day, 
in  the  Dth  year  of  Nabouidus,  King  uf 

Babylou. 
lu  the  presence  of  Ebatuui,   (he  wife 

of 

the  daughter  of  Murdukshuuiibui,  the 

son  of  Shulu. 


This  tablet  treats  of  the  sale  of  two  slaves  by  Nidintuui  to  Iddinniarduk.  A  con 
tract  tablet  was  at  first  made,  acconliiig  to  which  the  2  uiaiia  10  shekels  were  to  be  paid 
at  the  end  of  the  month  UIulu  in  the  V>th  year  of  the  reign  of  Xabonidus.  But  Iddin- 
niarduk found  himself  unable  to  jMiy  at  the  appointed  time.  So  Nidiutum,  immediately 
iu  the  begiuuing  of  the  succee<.liiig  month,  has  a  tablet  made,  recording  the  absttlute 
sale  of  the  slaves,  and  allowing  (he  money  to  remain  as  a  debt  over  Iddinmarduk. 
Wlmt  interest,  if  any,  the  latter  is  to  pay,  is  not  stated  here. 


NO.  54. 

on  VERSE. 

,T  '^i:  3:1-1  \'>^<   TM    f    ]^  ^^   }} 


tK 


Niii  th  Year  of  Nabon  idus. 

1, 


109 


,^  *  -H  Tf  -TI  ^M<T  ^I  £:^  <  :B^i'-  -^T 
<eT  t^T  I  -Mil  4??  V 

,m  i^\j  =*!  If  -^  ^it  >w^-  ^^^T  ^ 

,^  tf^  ^i:  ;PHL  yf  :eI  cSff:  -  A4f  tBsI 

^I  iU  -I-  I 
.  ►<I^  f  ^^I H  tl  ill  ^I  ■!<«  Mi^  <I-m  ^  ►^ -^ 

,„  ^T  -SI  ^i  SI  *w  ^T  7^  -^^  :bi  :?:  ►i^ 

I  SI  ^I  -11^  ^T 
„||y  dEffi-  Elc=  ?f  s^l  STtt  ^  -^  SI  4m 
I  ^^  ^  >/-  I?  V 


110 


The  Metropolitan  Museivm  of  Art. 


I  j4^  \\-  \  --m  4i4f  sn 


^ 


T  ^  *fe?  ^ 


III  «  ^I  f  -IIJl  H  I?  ^ 

Jccordtn</  (o  my  judgment  about  fifteen  linvH  are  brokeu  off  here. 

REVERSE. 

3,  T -lEiT  !?  H  <T-  in  ^  T  siT -*  TH  £^TtT 

„^  ejn  I  .^  <::^<y  .yj  ^^  yn  v  T  leT  -:eT  T? 
^]}  y  sfw-  <::^  yj  v  ►+  ^<  .^  ^^:^t  ^  ^^-r 

Tablet  brown,  with  a  decided  pink  tinge;  2\  inches  wide  at  the  broadest,  and  2§ 
inches  long  at  the  longest  part.  The  three  remaining  edges  are  perfectly  flat  and  smooth. 
Acconliug  to  my  judgment  more  than  half  of  the  tablet  below  line  14  is  broken  off.  In 
the  middle  of  line  14  the  tablet  is  1}  inches  thick.  This  tablet  has  been  published  in 
autograph  by  Strassmaier  in  his  texts  No.  380,  as  well  as  by  Pinches  in  Ifebraica  III, 
13  ff.  Peiser  gives  a  transliteration  and  translation  in  Z.  A.  Ill,  pp.  365— 371.  I 
would  not  have  republished  the  tablet  here,  if  it  were  not  my  intention  to  publish  every 
cuniform  text  in  the  possession  of  the  Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art.  This  text  contains 
13  lines  less  than  the  one  published  by  Piuches  and  Peiser,  from  whom  the  missing 
parts  are  supplied. 


Ninth  Year  of  Nahonidus. 


Ill 


1  BU-ka-sir  apcU-iu  ia   Na-di-nu  apal 

Sag-gil-la-ai 

2  a-na  Na-di-nu  abi-m  apcd-hi  ia  Ziri-ia 

apcU  Sag-gil-la-ai 

3  ik-bi  um-ma  a-na  bit  mar-bMii^i  tas- 

pur-an-ni-ma  Zu-un-)ia-a 

4  aJi-m-ti  a-hu-ttz-ma  niSru  u  inurlu  la 

iul-du  BU-u-sat 

5  mtir-m  sa  Zu-un-na-a  vur  aiiali-ia  ia 

la-pa-ni 

6  Ni-ku-du    apal    Nitr-Sin    mu-ti-iu 

mah-ru-u 

7  tu-li-du  a-)ia  muru-u-tu  lu-ul-ki-i-iiia 

8  lu-u  maru-u-a  iu-u  ina  duppi  inn-  u- 

ti-iu 

9  ti-5a-ab-ma  iikHtini  u  mim-mu-ni 

10  ma-la  ba-hi-u    ku-nu-uk-ma  pa-ni-iu 

iu-ud-gil-ma 

11  [i]w-u     mdru     sa-hit     kCdi-i-ni    iu-u 

Na-di-nu  a-mat 

12  \BU-ka-8]ir  mar-su  ik-bu-5u  lu  im-gur 

Na-di-nu 

13  [ana    u-rnu    ru-ku-f^u    inan-ma  sa- 

nam-ina  a-na  11  la-ki-i 

14  \iiklti  u  nikasu-iu-nu\4u  dap-pi  is- 

tur-ma 


1  Belkasir,  the  son  of  Nadiaa,  the  son 

of  Saggillai, 

2  to  Nadiuu,   hia  father,   the  bod  o( 

Ziria,  the  Bon  of  Soggillai, 

3  spoke:  "To  the  house  of  the  adopted 

sons    thou    didst  send   me,    and 
Zunna 

4  I  took  to  wife;  but  a  son  or  a  dnugh< 

ter  she  bore  (me)  not:  Belusat, 

5  the  son  of  Zunna,   the  son  of  my 

wife,  whom  unto 

6  Kikudu,  the  son  of  N(irsin,  her  formei 

husband, 

7  she  bore,  as  my  adopted  sou  I  will 

take: 

8  verily  he  shall  be  my  son.    At  (the 

writing  of)  the  tablet  conoemiug 
his  adoption, 

9  thou  shalt  be  present.     Our  rights  of 

income  and  our  possessions, 

10  as  many  as  they  may  be,   with  seal 

write  over  to  him. 

1 1  Verily  our  adopted  son  shall  he  be. 

Nadinu,  to  the  word  (which) 

12  Belkasir,    his  son  had  spoken,    did 

not  give  bis  assent.      (Then)   Na- 
dinu, 

13  that  for  eternal  days    no   one  else 

should  seize 

14  (his)   rights  of  income  and  his  ser- 

vices, wrote  out  a  tablet. 


(About  15  lines  are  missing.     For  the  continuation  of  the  text  see  Zeitschrift  fiir  Assy- 
riologie  III,  pp.  366-368.) 


30  Nirgal [apal  Sag-g\U-Ui-ai 

?,\    La-a-ba-H  apal-iu  »aDu-m[wA;j  apal 
Sag-gil-la-ai 

32  (annlu)  dupsar  MardukArU-zir  apal-iu 

ia  Su-la-a 

33  apal  XJ-mr-a-mat-Bil  Bahilu{kr)  arafj- 

l^abatu  umu  15  kani 

84  sattu  9  kam  Nabu-tiaHd  iar  BabUi{ki) 


30  Nergal ,  the  son  of  Saggillai; 

31  L^bashi,  the  son  of  Dumuk,  the  son 

of  Saggillai; 

32  the  scribe  Mardukbelzir,  the  son  of 

Shula, 

33  the  son  of  Usuramntbel.      Babylon, 

in  the  month  Shabatu,  on  the  15th 
day, 

34  iu    the  9th  year  of  Nabonidus,   King 

of  Babylon. 


112 


The  Mdropolitan  Museum  of  Art. 


lidknsir  h:ul  married  Znnna  according  to  the  wish  of  his  father  Nadimi.  But 
ZuDua  proved  to  he  barren.  Belkasir,  however,  did  not  wish  to  depart  this  life  with- 
out an  heir,  ho  therefore  proposed  the  adoption  of  his  step-son.  To  this  Nadinu,  for 
some  reason,  wouhl  not  give  his  assent.  Now  Belkasir  hml  every  legal  right  t )  adopt 
Bolusat,  and  ho  would  undonb'.edly  have  done  so,  had  not  his  father  made  a  will  declar- 
ing thiit  if  Bolkasir^should  have  :i  natural  and  legal  koii,  the  latter  bhonid  bo  the  heir  of  his 
grandfather's  fortune.  If ,  however,  (his  heir  should  not  conic  to  this  world,  then  Belkasir 
should  adopt  liis  brother,  and  the  latter  would  then  become  the  heir  of  Nadinu's  wealth. 
If  Belkiisir  should  bo  unwilling  to  adopt  his  brother  (?),  then  he  should  adopt  bis  sister. 
—  The  end  of  the  tiblct  i-t  unfortunately  broken  off,  hence  we  can  not  learn  the  final 
result  of  all  these  hypotheses. 

For  a  fuller  explanation  of  this  tablet  see  Z.  K.  Ill,  :t65— 371. 


NO.  .'».'>. 

HE  VERSE. 

„2<iJ   $T   ^T  «TT  ^ 


11 


IS 


This  very  fragmentary  tablet,  of  which  only  part  of  the  reverse  is  preserved,  is  of 
a  light  gray  color,  1  X  U  inches.  The  signs  are  very  lightly,  bnt  finely,  made.  At  least 
ten  lines  must  be  missing. 


11  -id  ajtal-hi  [xa] 

12  [<tpnl] /ulr-lM^n-ni-^fardHk■ 

13  apal  Ir1)a-Nir<jal  BabUuiki) 

14  arah  Tairitu  itmu  22  kam 


11    shi,  the  eon  of 


. ;    Kurbannimar- 


12  the  son  of  . . 

duk 

13  the  son  of  Irbanergal.     Babylon, 

14  in  the  month  Toshritu,   on  the  22nd 

day. 


Twelfth  Year  of  Nahonidus. 


iia 


15  >m[hiYlkam'Sa!bu-na*\il\mr\  linhUi{h-i) 


15  in  tbo  rilb  year  of  NabonuluH,   Kiuy 
of  Bnbylou. 


What  this  tablet  purports  to  say,  I  nin  at  ii  loss  to  tell.      The  only  fact  iiieulioued, 
besides  tbe  dii'c,  is  t'lat  Kurbauniiuanluk  is  u  wituess. 


NO.  Mi. 

on  VMJiSK 

ma  ^  w  ^T  If  ^  I  --f  ^T  -11 1?  I  f 


1  ^^fe' 


3  ^1 


II I  V  T  k4  ^^+<  If  I M  -4  -<  S^^I  ill!  <^El 
efm  -4  -0  ^  *  ^M  <  5I-I  ^t  3?T 
f  y  ^  f^l  *  -Kslt]  I  V  X^  »^  -+  <:=!^T 

-f  <cf  I  W< 


!^^^^ 


in  ^  I  -f  <:=!^I  -^  -^*~-  hii 


'^::^^  i   t--^  ^  SP^I  If  ^f  III  -El  4i.- 

^  ^  s  cm  a  II  ^  ^-  -j^  -^^  5^51  If 

em    ^    5^1    H     <     V    yiT    ;r<r    ffll 


114 


The  Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art. 


„cfiH  HP  -^  4^    If  ^    <-  '^  ti  ^i]  If 

u^    -liji    4^       ;^^    ►¥-    S<I      I    -m}    ►+    I      IM 

»*    I  -^  wl  If  I  -f  ^f  ^  I-^IIf;EI<T- 

>.  If  I  ?    I  ^tltl  Kff  If  I  -^  S^f  <I-   I  e=SsT  -T^A 

„  ^  ^JU  If  I  VI  -S^IIf  ^11  If  I  S^]  -Jh  -< 
.aSIT  f  I  -V  wl  Sif  -^H  ^I  W  ^ 
<  II  ^     T  -Mtltl  ^    t^   ^f  ^ 


Tablet  brown,  IfxU  inches.  The  right  upper  comer  of  the  obverse  is  broken  off. 
And  tbo  surface  of  tho  obverse  is  as  if  pressed  down  with  tbe  finger  before  the  tablet 
was  baked.  There  are  numerous  cuts  and  strokes  ou  the  tablet,  which  were  undoubtedly 
made  by  the  careless  scribe.     Otherwise  the  signs  are  well  made. 


1  [i-n]a  ki-it  ia  anih  iSamna  Nu-vb-la-a 

2  \mnrnt   ]  apal-hi  ki   Mu-i-Uib- 

liU  ajml  Arml-fiamai 

3    ma-na  kasiti  a-na  Atmai-iddln 

apal-hi  6a  Afanbik-zir-ibni 

4  npal  Atr-a-rtp-zu-u  {amilu)  tnUr  xip-rt 

ia  t^um-xtkin 

5  [apaiyhi    m  Aa-«tr   apal    Arad-BU 

ta-7iam-din-ina 

6  u-aji4im  {mti)  in  ^I.  BA  R  u  sulupu 

7  ia  i§um-ukin  ia   ina  Ui   Kur-ian-ni- 

Marduk 

8  apcd-m    ia  Marduk-ium-ilmi    lapal] 

Anul-Nirgal 

9  inu4um  Ha  Nu-itb4a-a  i-U-la-* 

10  i-na-<tii-\i-ma  [a]-na  Nu-itb4a-a 

1 1  u-bul4am-ma  u  4  rit-tum  /cos  [pi] 

12  a-na  Samaa-iddin  ta-nam-din-ma 


1  At  the  end  of  the    month  Samna, 

Nubt&, 

2  the  daughter  of ;    the  son  of 

Mushczibbel,  tbe  son  of  Aradsha- 
mash, 

3     mana  of  money  to  Shamash- 

iddin,  tbe  son  of  Marduziribni, 

4  the  son  of  Shararazb,  the  messenger, 

for  Shumukin, 

5  the  son  of  Nosir,  the  son  of  Aradbel, 

will  give. 
G  The  receipts   for  the  grain  and  the 
dates 

7  of  Shuninkiu,  which  against  Kurban> 

nimarduk, 

8  the  son  of  Mardiikshumibui,  the  son 

of  Aradnergal, 

9  the  husband  of  Nubtil,  are  made  out, 

10  (the  laltjr)  will  take,  and  to  Nubta 

11  he  vtill  bring  (them).      And  4  certifi- 

cates (?)  for  the  money 

12  to  Shtimashiddin  she  will  give. 


T hlrteentli  Year  of  Nabonidns. 


115 


13  M-an4im  (niJ«)  *a-na  Nu-vh-ia-a 

14  i-nam-din  (amilu)  mu-Artn  Itir-Marduk 

apcU-m 

15  m  i§um-ukm    apul    {ilu)  Kib^na'id 

La-a-ba-H 
IG  apal-iiu  m  Nahu-idanin  a  pal  Mti-kal- 
hm  ^pik-zir 

17  {amUit)    dupsar  ap<il-fin    sa    Itir-JiU 

apal  Arad-Bil 

18  [a]lu  fta  Sum-vJcin  arah  Samna  umu  5 

kam 

19  [Sattu  1 1 2  kam  Nabu-na*id  8arBabili{ki) 


13  Tho  receipts  to  NAbta 

14  lio  will  return.    Witnesses:  Et<iminr- 

duk,  tbo  son 

15  of  Shumukiii,   thu  son  ofKibua'id; 

L^basbi, 

16  the  son  of  NabAidanin,   the  son  of 

Mnkallim;  Shnpikzir, 

17  tbe  scribe,    the  son  of  Eterbel,  Iho 

son  of  Aradbel. 

18  In  the   city    of  Shumukin,    in  iho 

month  Samtm,  on  the  5th  day, 

19  in  the  12th  year  of  Nabonidus,  Kinp 

of  Babylon. 


Nubta  promised  to  pay  n  certain  sum  of  money  at  the  end  of  the  month  Mar- 
cheshwan  (November)  to  Shamashiddiu.  The  latter  was  in  turn  to  pay  it  over  to  his 
master  ShamHshukin.  This  sum  of  mouey  wa<?  due  for  grain  and  dates  bought  of 
Shamashukin.  Now  the  bills  had  been  made  out  in  the  name  of  Kurbannimarduk,  the 
husband  of  Nubta.  He  naturally  turned  them  over  to  his  wife,  wlio  had  contracted  the 
debt.  Nubta  then  issued  four  bonds  which  she  gave  to  Shamashiddin,  in  order  to 
insure  her  payment  of  the  money.  As  soon  as  she  had  paid  the  proper  amount,  these 
certificates  or  bonds  would  naturally  be  returned  to  her,  as  lines  13  and  14  state.  The 
debt  had  about  25  days  to  run,  and  therefore,  probably,  no  interest  was  to  be  paid. 


NO.  57. 

OB  VERSE. 

.V    ill    ^T     -   W<   Vi   -IT<T     HIIIIIIII 


116 


The  Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art. 


m^^mt 


W'i^^^^^^^mMt 


m^m 


«^    -T<T)1     4^  '  ^      -Til 
.H   ^    I    <   :^?   V    SI 

REVERSE. 

w  IT        1      1         H-         »-f-T        I      «T     >-*H       IT    §SM«J-m^^^5SSS5S5$JSSJJSSv<5!MS« 
13  T      I    ►  r       •t     \»--«I     it     1    ►T^I    »^t    JSiSS^58S«SS««8^S 

„■£!!   ^T   S!T   ^    I      SSJ     sg 

Tablet  light  gmy;  at  the  longest  Hide  Ij*.  nud  nt  the  broodiest  1]  iuches.  The  right 
edge,  with  part  of  the  tablet,  is  totally  deatroj'ed.  The  signs  are  very  blurred  and 
diflii'nlt  to  decipher.     There  are  no  wedgeH  on  the  left  and  the  upper  edges. 


1  06  (pir  ardftpu  zeik-pi  m  .... 

2  apal-iu    m    lialatu    niml  I-sui^- p'.-nl 

[ina  Ul\ 

3  BU-ttir-napiati  Marduk- [u\ 

4  N(tbii-zir^-aMir  ina  artih  Titiritu  S[hit\ 

5  ij(nn-ru-ta   ina   ha'sa-ri   i[t-ti]    

6  tii-hal-iu  lib-bi  kas-pa  (.») 

7  htl4um  ki  hu-m-hi 

8  i-nam-din-nu  iSti-in  p[u-ut] 


1  (>(>  gur  dates,  the  planting,  which 

2  the  sou  of  Balatu,  the  son  of  Esag- 

gillai,  (is  to  receive  of) 

3  Beletc-rnapshati,  Murduk ,  and 

4  Nabuzirkasir.  In  the  month  Tashritu, 

at  the 

5  full    price,   during    the  harvesting, 

together  with gur  of 

6  unripe  dates,  for  money  ^V) 

7  talents  of  date  

8  they  will  give.     One  receipt 


Thirteenth  Year  of  Nahonidus. 


117 


9   \i\-HH-m  i(  i-l(it  rii-[>i)t-ti(] 


10  m  Hi    ^fllrl^uk•^k'(^!^il•    {jimilH)    

11  Sum-imtr  aplu-su  m  Xttbu-wi-l-yir] 

12  (ipol  Mi-pi- 1-  lildln-iDittpld   [ap<ti-)i>i\ 

l;l  tui  Iris-liil  (tpid  lill-i- 


14  {amilii)  diipsar  llti-Xuiifi-htilntii  up<tl- 

,su  m 

15  (ilii  Mn-inil-kl-iiii  ((r((/t  I'htlu 

16  nmu  1  kdin  idttu  13  kaui  Xabu-\na*id] 

17  *'<>•  Bdhili 


9  lie  will  briug.     AutliunkMiliuu  ^lero 
is  the  balance 

10  ill  favor  of  Manlukkasir,   the 

(which) 

11  Shuiuusur,  the  sonof  NabiiUHsir, 

I'i  the  son  Mepe,  (uud)  Itldiuuaplu,   t!ic 
sou 

13  of  Ereshbel,  the  sou  of  Bite 

(will  give). 

14  Scribe:      Ittiuabtlbalatu,     the  sou 

of   

15  In  the  city  Mamilkishu,  iu  the  month 

Ulnlu, 
IG  on  the  1st  duy,  iu  the  I3th  year  of 

Nabonidus, 
17   King  of  Babylo" 


Beleteruapshfiti,  Mardiik ,  and  Nabuzirknsir,  who  were  farmers  or  gardeuers, 

promise  to  sell  66  gur  of  dates  to  the  son  of  Balatu.  They  will  also  sell  him  unripe 
dates,  and  something  else  connected  with  the  dnte-palm  (line  7),  at  a  specified  price. 
Now  this  son  of  Balatu  seems  to  have  purchased  the  account  of  Mardukkasir,  to  whom 
some  dates  were  due  from  Shnmusur  and  Iddiimapla.  The  last  named  two  men  must 
have  stood  in  some  intimate  relation  with  the  three  mentioned  in  lines  3  and  4,  other- 
vlse  they  would  not  have  beeu  mentioned  on  this  tablet  and  in  this  conueclion. 


NO.  58. 

OB  VERSE. 


.<T-©    ^  vi^  A- 


;i4iT 


About  two  lines  on  the  obverse,  and  two  on  the  reverse  are  broken  off. 


118 


The  Metropolitan  Museiiw,  of  Art. 


REVERSE. 

11    1     w      ^         -^     \  111      <s      I       H^sMSJsim^s\^s^<sMs 


Tablet  gmy;  IJxll  iucbea.  A  fragment  The  Bigns  are  crude.  The  right  side 
and  about  4  lines  upon  the  lower  edge,  are  broken  off.  Tlio  loft  and  upper  edges  are 
not  written  upon. 


1  5   Hkhi  bii-ka  kajipi  in 

2  maral-au  ia  AipUc-zir  itia  ili 


3  apal-hi     kt    Bala-tu     apal     Mat' 

\auk\ 

4  w  Aa-*-U-/um  \martU-fm  in] 


1  5   coined  shekels  of  money,    which 


2  the  daughter  of  Shapikzir  is  to  receive 

from , 

3  the  son  of  Balatn,   tlie  son  of  Mar- 

duk 

4  and  Na'ittum,  (the  daughter  of) 


9   Bul-lu-tu    (amllu)    dupsar   apal-iu 
in 

10  aiHil  \fu4ul4itn  Babilu{ki)  [arah] 

1 1  ftmu  8  kam  mttu  13  kam  Na[bii-na*id] 

12  kir  Babai{ki) 


About  four  lines  are  broken  off. 

9  Ballutu,  the  scribe,  the  son  of 


10  Ibe  son  of  Mulullim.     Babylon,  in 

the  month , 

11  on  the  8th  day,   in  the  13th  year  of 

Nabonidus, 

12  King  of  Babylon. 


This  tablet  merely  records  the  small  debt  of  five  shekels,  which  the  son  of  Balatu 
and  Na'ittiim  were  to  pay  to  the  daughter  of  Shapikzir.  Whether  iuterest  was  to  be 
paid  or  not,  we  can  not  tell,  as  that  interesting  fact  may  have  been  contained  in  the 
four  lost  lines. 


Fifteenth  Year  of  Ndbonidus. 


119 


11 
1  ^^ 


NO.  5». 

OB  VERSE. 

JH  *  T  n  -!I  v^  SI?  :gT  ^T  Til  ^ 

IT  m  ^T  III  ^  m  ^i 

eT  I?  -  ^Ttt  ^%V^m  ililll 

SM  VERSE. 

^T   -T^A    JJ^   <T- 


10  ^ 


E!     ^T   <   ^ 


„T   «^tTtT 


■^ 


Tablet  Ux2 J  inches.  In  very  bad  condition.  The  corners,  excepting  the  upper 
right  hand  one  of  the  obverse,  are  broken  off.  There  is  a  large  hole  in  line  5.  The  last 
two  lines  are  badly  marred.    The  space  seems  to  indicate  the  15th  year. 


1+6  LU.NITA  ina  kUta  lii-mut 

2  [apal]-m  m  A-Jm-nn  nrah  Diizu  dmu 
Z  kam 


1  -f-  6  sheep  are  to  be  received  from 

Bimut, 

2  the  son  of  Ahnnn,    in   the    moDib 

Ouzu,  on  the  3rd  day; 


1-20 


The  MttropoUtan  Museum  of  Art. 


3  3u   Li'.  NIT  A    vui     kltu     Savuti- 
iimiUnniiii-lk  {amClit)  ri*u 

4+7  LU.NfTA  inn  klld   Musallim- 
Mardnk  npul  p<t-ki-r[n-Hn\ 

5  f  22  Ll'.XITA  i-,ui  Lr.XITA 

6    -ht-tt    inti    k'lu   {(imilu)  rah  in 

Jumiji 

7    /./  n-nn  ktid-ik:     

8  ((«»u7«)  dupaur]  fktmai-zir-tjal-lUn 
0   [ap«/-*»<  ini]  StiinitH-iliir-ii 

10  (araj/t    Ituzn   tiiini    10  htm  HiiHu  li(.*) 

ktim 

11  X(ihfi-uti*iil  ktr  liiihllHk!) 


3  36  sbeep   from  Sbaniasbmudamniik, 

the  shepherd ; 

4  -{-7  sheep    from    MoHalliuimarduk, 

the  son  of  the  overseer; 

r>   -f  22  hheep,  as sheep, 

G  from  the  chief  of  the  priests, 

7    not  for  slaughter 

8  Scribe:  Shaniashzirgalliiii, 
0  the  son  of  Shainashdiira. 

10  III  the  mouth  Diizu,  on  the  10th  day, 

in  the  1  r>th  year  of 

11  NaboiiidiiK,  King  of  Babylon. 


This  tablet  gives  a  list  of  the  sheep  and  of  those  that  offered  them,  probably  iu  the 
temple  at  Sippara. 

NO.  «0. 

OB  VERSK. 

.in  f  I  ^11  ^  -^  I?  ^  yn  -f  -< 

.  f  -^  ^+  ^    -<aTt!   T  :eT  ^   <  IT  Jtll 
,iv   ^   iti\]   ^I   -El   +1    ^   If 

A  "^  i^  I   s^  t^}}  i^   s^I  : 


Sixteenth  Year  of  Nalmnidus. 


121 


REVERSE. 

.J?   ^>?      !   "^tltT   4^1    «   2:     w  ^T   I 

.  T  --f  4ifl  ^^  ^^  !U  *  T  --f -  ^4f  -E!  -II 
,.£^  m   T  -^tM  ^  f  M^   If  I    i 
.J  -^    I  *  -^    Tf    ^   yn   -f-  -< 
„M   ^     2iif    -ai    ^T   «T   ^ 

Tablet  dark  browu  sliadiiig  to  black;  lIXls  inches.  The  tablet  has  beeu  very 
roughly  used,  judging  by  the  blurre  1  appjar.vnce  of  the  signs.  The  left  edge  contains 
no  writing,  the  right  edge  but  a  few  signs  of  prolonged  lines.  The  edges  and  comers 
are  perfect;  the  whole  tablrt  is  preserved. 


1  J  ma-na  5J  iik'ui  knspl  m 

2  Ina  1  siklu,  b'U-ka  sa  Xabii-ri-)nan-ni 

3  apdl-hi   »<t    Ba-iii-'ui  ind  Hi  Mtirdnk- 

mkin-sum 

4  apal-m  m  IlLl-<mir-mm  apnl  {nmilu) 

iaiifju  liil 

5  »a  kdli  ina  Hi  1  ma-na  12  iiikln 

6  kaspi  iiui  ili-m  i-rah-hi 

7  Marduk-su-la-hu-u-a 

8  u  mlirl-m  (amilu)  nisi  biti-m 

9  mm-ka-nn 

10  ia  Nabu-ri-man-ni  u  (amilu)  rasu-u 


1  fi  mnna  5i  shekels  of  money,   which 

2  is  divided  into  single  shekels,   which 

Naburimanni. 

3  the  sou  of  Hania,  is  to  receive  from 

Mardukshakinslinm, 

4  the   son   of  Belnsurshum,  the  son  of 

the  priest  of  Bel ; 

5  every  year,   upon  one  niana,    twelve 

shekels  of 
()   money  shall  increase  against  him. 

7  Mardukshulahiia 

8  and  her  sons,  the  slaves  of  his  house, 
I)  are  the  security 

10  of  Nabilrimanni.     And  a  creditor, 


122 


Tlie  MetropoUlan  Museum,  of  Art. 


1 1  iornam-ma  ina  Ui  %d  i-ial-lut 

12  a-di  Nabu-ri-man-tii  kasp<i-iu 

13  i-i(d-lim-inu  [amilu)    mu-kin-nu    BU- 

iu-nu 

14  apal-iu  ia  Ri-mui  apal  Mtd-tM-si-bii 

1 5  Ratnm  unu-zir-ibni  ap(tl-iu  ia  liamm^mir 

la-bak 

16  (amilu)    dupsar    Xabti-kumiikvrvn 

apal-iu  ia 

17  Manluk-iakin-ium  apal  (amilu)  iatuju 

lid 

18  BabU,u{ki)  arah  Samna  ttmu  21  kam 

19  kMu  16  kam  Nabet-na'id  iar  BabU^ki) 


j      1 1   whoever  he  be,  over  (the  slaves)  shall 

have  no  say 
j       12   until  Niibiirimanui  bis  money 

13  shall  have  received.     Witnesses:  Bel- 
shunu, 

14  the  son  of  Rimut,    the  son  of  Mut- 
nasibil; 

15  Bammauziribni,    the    son   of  Ram- 
manlabak. 

16  Scribe:  Nabushumishkun,  thesonof 

17  Mardukshakinshon,   the  sou  of  the 
priest  of  Bel. 

18  Babylon,   in  the  mouth  Samnn,   on 
the  21  St  day, 

19  in  the  16th  year  of  Nabonidus,  King 
of  Babylon. 


Mardnkshakiuthuiu  loaned  J  mana  5)  shekels  of  money  from  Naburiraanui.  This 
money  had  been  paid  out  in  single  shekels,  therefore  Mardukshakinshum  received  25 1 
pieces  of  coin.  Now  this  money  is  to  bear  interest,  the  rate  of  interest  to  be  12  shekels 
on  60  for  every  year,  hence  20  per  cent.  Until  the  loan  is  repaid,  tho  female  slave  of 
Mardukshnkinshum,  together  with  her  sons,  are  to  bo  security.  These  slaves,  it  is 
especially  stipulated,  can  not  be  given  as  security  to  another  creditor  of  their  master, 
nor  can  they  be  disposed  of  by  the  latter,   until  NabQrimanni's  claim  has  been  settled. 

NO.  61. 

OBVERSE. 


1  $ 


^sMSJ^MssmJi^SS^SM^.^^?^?^^^^ 


<A'^    f    T  '^  K<I 


T  U<    T?    T  ;^T  -f   -< 


Reign  of  Nabonid'u.s. 


123 


18  $ 


18  ^il«$li^iiiiii^i^^^M$^^:^^^ 


14  s 


15  $$M^$ 


16 


Tablet  brown,  with  numerous  black  spots;  IJx If  inches.  The  left  upper  comor 
of  the  obverse  is  destroyed,  thus  breaking  off  the  beginning  of  the  last  few  lines  of  the 
reverse.     The  left  edge  is  not  written  upon. 


1    [g^r]  -§/.  BAR  sa  Sum-ukin 

2  [apaUsu  sa] nordr  apal  Arad- 

Bii 

3  ina  Ui  Mardiik-mm-iddin  apal-m  sa 

4  Arad-Bil  apal  Arad-Bil 

5  ina  arah  Aim  ina  kakkadi-m  14  gur 

6  id-dup-tum  ina  babu  Ka-lak-ku 

7  inam-din  i-lat  u-an-tim 

8  u  aib  ti  tu  [i-pi]-i-sa 

9  (isu)  kiru  ip-pu-us 

10  (amUu)  mu-kin-nu  Ukin-zir  apal-iu  m 
Ai 


1    gur  of  grain  which  Shumukin, 

2  the  son  of nasir,    the  son  of 

Aradbel, 

3  is  to  receive  of  Mardukshumiddin, 

the  son  of 

4  Aradbel,  the  son  of  Aradbel. 

5  In  the  month  Airu,  in  his  sum  total, 

14  gur  (of  grain) 

6  as ,  in  the  gate  Rnlnkku, 

7  he  will  give.     In  addition  a  receipt 

8  and  a  bond  (?)  were  given  (that) 

9  he  will  make  a  park. 

10  Witnesses:  Ukinzir,  the  son  of  Ai, 


124 


The  Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art. 


man;    Naba- 


1 1  apaX  (amdu)  tublu  na-bU4i  Nabu-ik-bi-      i      1 1    the  son  of  the  . . 

iu  I  ikbisba, 

12  [apal-8u  ii]  N'lrgnl-ihni  npnl  {amilu)  12  the  son  of  Nergalibni,  the  son  of  the 


rob  hUni 

13    tuk-Marduk  apal-m 

14  [ki] ["P^l^]  •^um-idan-nu 

15    ia  si  dan  H  ta 

16    [h(Mu]  -f  4  kam  Xrihu-na*id 

17  [iar]  BabUi{ki) 


chief  carpenter; 

13   tukmarduk,  the  son 

14  of ,  the  son  of  Sbnmidannn; 

15   

16  In  the  month ,   on  the   

day,  in  the  -f4tb  year  of  Nabonidns, 

17  King  of  Babylon. 


Sbnraakin  is  to  receive  from  Mardukshumiddin  a  certain  quantity  of  grain.  In 
the  month  Aim  (May)  the  latter  promisoH  to  give  14  measures  in  the  gate  Kalakku  (see 
Peiser,  B.  V.  VI  5).  In  addition  to  this,  liues  7-  9  seem  to  say,  he  is  to  make  a  park 
for  Khumakin.  The  labor  connected  with  this  is  probably  to  coaut  the  same  as  the 
delivery  of  several  measures  of  grain.  Lines  8  and  15  are  too  blurred  to  be  proj^erly 
deciphered. 

NO.  62. 

OB  VERSE. 

.llinBMMiiit=TT«-f  m  T^^T4i^<T-«:-^ 
. illllll  5?T \'^\\^}  *  « 11^  ^  T?  V,  ^T  T-  T- 
•  illlA  "77!  ^!  <  EP?  V  T  -ET  ^T  ■■I*- 
Jlllilllll  Jfcn    If  T  &:TtT  ^TT^ -ET  TT  T? 

Ah<MiSoKr  tmtt  ON  tkr  ohffTtf.  end/our  on  Ihe  rermt  are  brokew  of. 

SE  VERSE. 


^    T 


f^ 


^  ^^? 


lielgn  of  NcthoiUcbis. 


198 


Tablet  a  fragmeut  of  dirk  gray  color  with  dark  olive  spots;  |Xli  inches.  The 
right  upper  side  is  perfect;  the  left  side  is  effaced,  and  the  lower  portion  is  totally' 
destroyed.  The  upper  and  right  edges  contained  no  writing.  About  8  lines  are  missing. 


1    gur  Si.  BAM  2  pi  a-ha-alj.  ki- 

in-nu 

2    bU4i-i-iJia  20 ka-ai    tu- 

mi-mi  , 

3    ba-n-^i  ia  La-ba-[a-g\i 

4  [apcU-m  ha  BoAa-tu  apal  SaggU-la-ai 


1    gur  of  grain,  2  pi  of 

2    vessels  of  spices,  20 


3   of  Labdshi, 

4  the  son  of  Balatu,  the  son  of  Saggillai. 


About  8  lines  are  missing. 


13      -im  arah  Aim,  iimti  1  kam 

14  [mttu] kam  [yabu]-tia*id  iar 

15  BabUi{ki) 


13   ,  in  the  month  Aim,  on  the 

first  day, 

14  in  the  . .  th  year  of  Nabonidus,   King 

15  of  Babylon. 


This  exceedingly  fragmentary  tablet  gives  a  list  of  goods  belonging  to  LabHshi. 
Whether  he  is  to  receive  them  from  spmebody  else,  or  to  give  them,  or  whether  this  is 
merely  a  list  or  inventory,  the  fragmentary  state  of  the  tablet  will  not  allow  us  to 
determine. 

NO.  63. 

OB  VERSE. 

. «  TT  til  R  ^y  W'^  \ 
,f  I  ►^  s<T  in  f  T  ^ 
,T?     I    ^I    --f   -<     - 


4!    "tfl    'tX^      It  I,      t      I    — llill 


=!A.T 


->-ff- 


I 


5|        B 


itsM 


itr. 


]  ^   w  '^ 


126 


The  Metropolitan  Musevm  of  A  rt. 


:&•£<  i 


REVKHSE. 

.air  -  £Itt  I  V  S  ^4^  -+  I  H'[a 
■Jn  ^  !  "^tM  jj} ::^  T?   ^  frill 

.2<It     -£!I      ^I   «    W   I 


»->. 


<X 


Tablet  dork  gray;  Ijxli  inches.    A  fraguieut.     The  tablet  is  much  damaged.     Tb; 
right  side  is  completely  effaced. 


1  22  (jnr  4  ]>»  st.BAR  m-[uUu{?)\ 

2  M  Siim-ukin  npal-kn  m  Nu- 

3  apal  Arnd-Bil  hui  i[li] 
^4   lii-mut  aptU-iia  «« 

.*>    ajw/i   I-rji-hi   inn    nnth  Air  a  \in  if  til  n 
......  kaiit^ 


1  22  gur  4  pi  of  gmia,  over  and  abo%'o 

2  which  Slmiimkin,  tlie   on  of  Na...., 
o  the  sou  of  Aradbel,  is  to  receive  from 

4  llimut,  the  son  uf , 

5  the   sou   of  Egibi.      In   the   month 

Airu,  of  the  . .  th  year, 


Reign  of  N(il>oniduj}. 


127 


6  hui  bubi  I\a-lalc-k:u  k<i[kk(uU-'iii\ 

7  id-dup-tuvi  i-[)Mm-dm\ 

8  irn  libbi  1  pi  St.  BAH 

9  Sl.ZIR-mzak-[pi] 

10  ik-ka-bu  nvts-ka-tm 

11  apal-m   5a   Na-din-hi    ai^il.   Arad- 

{ilu) 

12  ia  SI. BAR i-pii-ii 

13  Sa    ina    kStd    Kur-ban-ni-Marduk 

[mar] 

14  (amilu)      mu-kin-nu     [AVfl6ft-«Hm-i(- 

^\xi,r  apal-m  kt] 

15  i-n-m  apal  (amilu)  rah  bCinl 

16  apai-hi  sa  Nnbu-ik-bi  apai  {amilH) 

17  Mardiik-hak'm-him  apal-m  m  &l 


18  {amilu)  dupsar  BU-tiballi-i[t] 

19  apcU  Arad-BU  alii 

20  arah  Samna  iimu  28  [kam  fiathi] 

[kam] 

21  Nabu-na*id  har  [  BahU\{ki)'] 


G  in  the  gate  Kaliikkii,  his  huiu  tnttil, 

7   uaiuely  the ,  ho  will  give 

K  Thereof  1  pi  grain,  and  ....  (meaanres 

of) 
9   his  seed  fieW,  planted  with 

10  are  called  the  security 

1 1  the  son  of  Nadishn,  the  sou  of  Arad 

(is  witness  that  the  tnouej) 

12  for  the  grain  5f was  paid 

i:}  which  was  received  from  Kuibanni'. 

marduk,  (the  son  of) 

14  Witnesses:  NabushnninKur,  the  son  of 

15  Erishu,  the  son  of  the  chief  car])oiiter; 

16  the  son  of  Nabuikbi,   the  son  of  the 

17  Mardukshakinshnm,    the    son    of 

Shi 

18  Scribe,  Beluballit, 

19  the  son  of  Aradbel.  In  the  city  .... 

20  in  the  mouth  Snmna,  on  the  28th  day, 

in  the  .  .th  year  of 

21  Nabonidns,  King  of  Bwbylon, 


Shumukin  is  to  receive  22  gur  4  pi  of  grain  from  Rimut.  The  hitter  promises  to 
deliver  it  in  the  month  Airu  of  the  . .  th  year,  in  the  gate  Kalakku  (seo  Peiser,  B.  V. 
VI  5).  But  Rimut  has  evidently  already  received  his  pay.  He  is  therefore  required  to 
offer  some  security.  This  he  offers  in  the  shape  of  grain  and  cultivated  land.  The  son 
of  Nadinshu  had  seen  Rimut  receive  his  pay  from  the  hands  of  Kurbannimarduk, 
hence  Rimut  can  not  retreat  from  his  agreement. 


NO.  64. 

OB  VERSE. 

^■^   ^c=t=   }e=e=    <I-^    *¥■     5^    /     J^IIIIHI 


128 


The  Metropolitan  Muse^im  of  Art. 


.  f  I  -Mil  :eT  *  IH  *>  T-Mtlt!  ^-^^  Ti 


ilftoMt  one  lint  on  the  obttne,  and  Itro  <m  ikt  tmotne  an  broken  of, 

REVKHSK. 

,Jf   T  ITTT  W<  Tf  Tf   i 
,jf    T  -+   tS?   <::^  I  I 


S^^^^5S:!jS!S!ti^5Si!iS«s:^^    


Tablet  dark  gray  shading  to  black;  ljx2i  iucbes  at  the  broadest  and  longest  parts. 
The  right  aud  lower  edges  are  destroyed.  The  right  side  of  the  reverse  is  totally  effaced. 
The  signs  are  very  plainly  made. 


1  u-an4im  ia  u-nu4u  {amilu) 

2  fntbaiu  uihtbu  u  mu-Sti-zib , 


1  The  receipt  for  the  nteusils  of  the 

man, 

2  (for)   garments  and  loans  (?) 


Reign  of  Nabmiidus. 


139 


3  hi  Sdbii-itir  apid-HU  ia  .\abu-ibni-zir 

>i[l*<il\ («] 

4  m  BU-ikl-ka  apal-iu  ia  NahMlml-zir 

a[pal\ 

5  «-?irt  Hi  La-n-bn-ii  np(U-[!in  m] 

6  apal  Sa-gil-ai  i«-m-* 

7  ina  lUt-bi  a-mt  La-a-ba-ii    

S  u-nn-tim    ia    Nahu-itir  apnl-Mu  kn 

[  Nahu-ibnUzir'\ 
9   BUik\-ia  i-[nam-din] 


3  tlmt  belonged  to  Niibiiett';r,  (he  bod  of 

Nabuibnizir,  the  hou  oC , 

(and) 

4  that  belonged  to  Belikisho,   the  hod 

of  Nabilibuizir,  the  son  of , 

5  to  the  account  of  LfibaHhi,   the  son 

of  , 

G  the  son  of  Saggillai,  is  made  out. 

7  Thereafter  to  Lab:ishi,  

8  the  receipt  of  Nabueter,   the  son  of 

Nabuibnizir, 

9  Belikisha  will  give. 


Lines  10,  11  and  12  are  eifaced. 


13  apal  Su-ha-ai 

H  apal  amilu  (tin)  tsa-[na-a\ 

15  apal  llu-u-mr-m 

16  {amilu)  dupsar  Ni-din-tu[m  apai-hi 

«a] 

17  BabiluQci)  arah  KisUimu  [umu] 

I  kam  satiu]      ....  [fcam] 

18  Nabu-na^id  iar  Ba[bili{ki)] 


13  the  son  of  Suhai;  

14  the  son  of  the  priest  of  Nana; 

15  the  son  of  Ilusurshu;  

16  Scribe:  Nidintum,  the  son  of 


17  Babylon,  in  the  month  Kisilimu,  on 

tke  .  .th  day,    in  the  .  .th  year  of 

18  Nabonidus,  King  of  Babylon. 


Nabuet^r  and  Belikisha,  two  brothers,  sold  a  certain  amouut  of  implements,  clothes, 
and  other  things.  The  bill  was  to  be  paid  by  Labashi.  Nabuetur  had  evidently  com- 
missioned his  brother  Belikisha  to  look  after  his  iaterests.  Therefore  Labashi  was  to 
pay  the  sum  of  money  due  the  two  brothers  of  Belikisha,  and  the  latter  was  to  give  the 
former  his  receipt  together  with  that  of  his  brother.  The  remainder  of  the  tablet,  from 
line  10  on  coutained  ouly  the  names  of  the  witnesses  and  the  date. 


NO.  65. 

OBVERSE. 


I  ►vftTtT  T?  ^  !U  f  T  -f  <:=i^T  ^TT  T^  TI—« 


r^^$^^>$i^^ 


2S?  ^]  t:^TtT  s^T  I  ^  -TUi  ^  <  Bi 


130  The  Metropolitan  Mu^eiim  of  Art. 


?  ^u EI t^i  f  :m.}  %}  <v --f  i<}}:^\  ^m 


n&U 


.  i^  I -+ ^  T%  ►^^  ►^  <T- ^  I  fli  ^  w  ;cyti -^I I 
,^T-  -:£l  I   -f-  5!ti  ^  f  T  -f  '^  "  -y  ►¥- 
.^  J^  cm  f  -Till  ^T  ^^TtT  <^\  B  t-  V 

.^  ^  ^!T  Tannin  c^^  i   S<if  t^y 

..  T  ^titT  T?  >^Hm  T  -4-  ^  T%  -^  ►^  if:}  -^ 

11  Hill        '^•T  SSSSSSSSiSSi*'«iiSS!it^<i».iSS•iSSSS^•.H        H-     »+-l      •-<i'-< 

„;^>^TSI'7^TJT:-T<T^TnYT3StT^-7^^ 
uTf  T  «  -s^  4!-^  4TI    T  ^11  -^ 

« T?  I  f  T  ^^*1T  <T-  iU  in  s:?  5iTtT  ^TT^  sa 

..<   ^  yn   T  -+  <:=J5T  ^a^^ami 

Tablet  light  gmy;  1^X2  inches.  The  signs  are  blurred,  and  a  considerable  portion 
of  the  surface  of  the  tablet  has  crumbled  oflf.  The  rig'at  upper  corner,  extendiug  half 
the  length  and  breadth  of  the  tiblet,  is  broken  off.  A  bad  break  is  also  found  on  the 
lower  edge.      The  tablet  is  very  difficult  to  decipher. 


Reign  of  Nabo nidus. 


131 


1  \8gur  ^i.BAR  [»a  (««)  DainuSum- 

iddin] 

2  apal-m  aa  JSU-lu-a   | '//>«/] [inn 

iU] 

3  Nabu-apal-iddin  apal-m  Ha  Manluk-irba 

apal 

4  ina  arah  Duzu  kakka<lu-sn  i-nam-din 

26gur 

5  ia  pir'u  ma-tum  m  arah  Duzu  pin 

BUit-ahrutu  nik\u\ 

6  ia   (ilu)   Dainu-ium-iddin  *t  /  Ri-kii- 

hak-lcC- 

7  rjal-ia-m  mai-ka-nu    m  (ilu)    Duinu- 

sum-iddin 

8  (amilu)  rasu-u  m-nam-ina  (ina)  Hi  ul 

i-ml-lat 

9  pap-pa-su  n\-Ha  mn]ii-sar-tum  in  nrah 

Tibitu 

10  Xabu-apal-iddiu   [a-ua]    (ilu)   Dainu- 

hum-iddin  i-tir 

11  n-an-t[im  (mi«)] fx^Ci)  ^  ti 

12  gah-bi »«-u6-[/a-a]-' 

13  (amUu)  mu-kin-nu    lii-mut  apal-m  tsa 

Nabu-ibni-zir 

14  apal  Man-nu-iji-ri  Bil  iddin 

15  apal-m  m  Li-ii-ru  apal  I-sag-gil-  [la-ai\ 


16  u  (amilu)  dupsar   Marduk-mm  . 

[apal-m  kt] 

17  apal  Arad-Nirgal  [Babilu(ki)] 

18  araJi  iSabatu  umu  25  kam  [satlu] 

[kam] 
I'J    ^'abu-na'id  .s[ar  Babiii(ki)] 


1  18  gtir  of  graiu,    which  Daiuushum- 

iddin, 

2  the  son  of  Sillu,   the  sou  of ., 

is  to  receive  from 
;)   Nabunpaliildin,   the  son  of  Manluk- 
irba,  the  sou  of 

4  In  the  month  Duzu  he  will  give  his 

amount.     18  gur 

5  of  seed-land,  during  the  month  Duzu, 

are  for  the  goddess  Belit-ahr&tu, 
the  sacrifice 
C  of  Daiuushum iddin   is  it.      Bikish- 
shakla , 

7  his  slave,   U  the  security  of  Daina- 

shnmiddin. 

8  Another  creditor  shall  h:ive  no  say 

over  him. 

9  (His)  sustenance   till   the  end  of  the 

month  Tebitu 

10  Nabuapaliddin    will  pay  to  Dafnu- 

shumiddin. 

1 1  The  receipts  for 

12  all  (of  them) he  will  cause  to 

be  brought. 

13  Witnesses:    Bimut,  the  son  of  Nabti- 

ibnizir, 

14  the  sou  of  Maunugiri ;  Beliddin, 

15  the  son  of  Lishiru,   the  son  of  Esag- 

gillai; 

16  and   the  scribe  Mardukshum ; 

the  son  of , 

17  the  son  of  Aradnei-gal.    Babylon  (?) 

18  iu  the  month  Shabalu,  on   the  26th 

day,  in  the  .  .  th  year  of 

19  Niibonidus,  King  of  Babylon. 


Dainushumiddiu  is  to  receive  from  Nabiiapaliddin  18  gur  of  graiu.  The  latter 
promiles  to  deliver  them  in  the  month  Duzu  (July).  These  18  gur  have  already  been 
Towed  to  the  goddess  Belit-ahratu  by  Dainushumiddiu,  and  the  latter  has  also  promised 
to  have  them  deliver  .d  in  the  s.'\me  month.  Consequently  he  must  be  severe  in  de- 
manding the  grain  at  the  proper  time.     He,  therefore,  takes  Bikishshakla ,  the 


132  Tlie  Mttropolitan  Museum  of  Art. 


slave  of  Nabuapoliddin  as  security,  and  by  means  of  line  8,  denies  the  right  of  any  other 
creditor  o£  Nabilapaliddin  to  luive  any  say  over  the  slave.  He  even  demands  sustenance 
for  the  Litter,  for  five  months  beyond  the  time,  when  the  payment  of  the  grain  has 
become  due.  Lines  11  aud  12  seem  to  imply  that  after  all  requirements  have  been 
sastisfied,  Daiuushiimiddin  will  cause  all  the  necewary  receipts  to  be  hauded  over  to 
his  debtor  Nabuapalidditi. 


NOTES. 


No,  1,    Line  1.     jjia  Hi  itia  pSn  is  a  double  expression  of  one  and  the  same  idea,   as 

ina  ili  and  ina  pUn  nre  used  interchangeably  in  the  contract  tablets. 
Lines  3,  5.    »int  Briinuow  C.  L.  10253.  . 
Line  6.     to- Ji<-<u  is propably  a  t  formation  of  the  stem  alSdu,  Heb.  *7*?^  meaO' 

ing  "to  beget" ;  hence,  tentatively,  "the  young." 
Line  10.  The  sign  ni  is  written  on  the  tablet  by  mistake  for  kak. 
Line  12.  Nippurii.     See  Briinnow  C.  L.  3S77. 
Ifo,  *,i.    Line  1.     ^  iiklu  6  UMu  written  instead  of  6i  siklu. 

Line  7.     According  to  Strassmaier,  Cambyses  Nos.  195,  226,  286,  BU-ki-iir  is 

the  son  of  Su-la-a,  of  the  family  of  Egibi.      In  this  tablet,  however, 

only  the  family  names  are  given. 
Line  9.     umu  is  omitted  by  the  scribe,  and  saltu  12  kam  is  repeated  by  mistake 

in  the  next  line. 
Line  10.  In  tablets  Nos.  2  and  3  of  this  part  a  final  phonetic  syllable  na  is 

added  to  Shamasbshumukin's  (Saosduchinos)  name.      In  No.  4, 

however,  it  is  omitted. 
No,  3.    Lines  1,  12.  Su-la-a.     To  be  read  thus  though  iSu-ba-a  is  written. 
Line  8.    Notice  the  curious  form  of  mafi. 
Line  14.  *-<  for  ^ 

No,  4,     Line  1.     ni-is-hu.     See  Tallqvist  p.  105,  and  Peiser,  K.  A.   II^ 

Line  5.     u4ir.     From  viru.    See  Stiass.  Neb.  261 «;  also  Part  I  of  this  book, 
where  it  occurs  in  the  form  u-iur  13*  15  *. 
No,  S,    Lines  3,  5,  6.  (U«)  Sa-bU-bit.     Strassmaier  reads  (fiw)  Zamame. 

Lines  7,  8.  The  last  sign  is  the  sign  of  repetition,  and  means  that  TU.BIT 

(Mu)  iSa-bil-bU  is  to  be  repeated. 
Line  11.  {amUu)  PI.IR.MlS,  if  read  syllabically  (ajni7i<>  pi'ir  (mtX),  may  mean 
"seedsmen,"  though  there  is  no  reason  why  the  plural  should  have 
been  used. 


The  Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art.  134 

No,  S.    Line  12.  I  would  take  Amai-ni-gab-a  with  the  {ki)  broken  off  as  the  name  of 
a  city,  OS  every  parallel  constmction  with  (amUu)  kingu  demands. 
Line  14.  Aimr-ihbi.    See  Briinnow,  C.  L.  5124. 

Lines  15,  16.  (amiht)  HI. HI  might  be  a  mistake  ou  the  part  of  the  scribe  for 
{mniiu)  III.  GA,  as  only  two  small  perpendicular  weiiges  are  lacking 
in  order  to  make  of  At  a  ijn.     Then  we  mnst  read,  according  to 
BrUnnow,  C.  L  8239  {mnilu)  tSbi.    In  line  IG  amilu  is  omitted. 
No,  6,    Line  17.  The  same  construction  as  in  2  '  of  this  part. 

No.  7,    Lines  5,  6.  mi-iin-ua.      This  word  I  take  with  Tallqvist  (p.   112)  to  mean 
"palm-branches,"  according  to  the  Heb.  D'3ppP  Cant.   7:0.    But 
it  must  be  read  with  the  i  and  not  the  «  sound.     I'eiser,  (B.  V. 
p.  2t0;    K.  A.  p.  102)  believes  it  to  signifiy  the  portion  th;it  the 
Stewart  or  tenant  receives. 
Lines  8,  10.  JiU-u-ir4u  "Bel  has  sent,"  from  *irfi. 
No,  8,     Line  3.     The  pronanciation  of  the  4th  sign  is  not  known  as  yet.     (anitiu^ 
Mi'iMiS).     See  Talhivist,   p.  90. 
Line  5.     This  is  a  round-aboutj  way  of  saying  "on  the  15th  day  of  the  month 

Simanu." 
Line  6.     itU-lak.     A  t  formation  from  aljku. 
Line  12.  fU-U  Heb.  SjJ  "shade,  roof,"  then  perhaps  "rent." 
No,  9,    Lino  2.     ina  puni   "to  be  at  the  disposal  of,"  and  not  to  be  read  inn  ;>."«  "to 
be  received  from,"  as  the  context  shows.     Compare  line  9. 
Lines  18,  21,  22.  maiihu  as  I  conjecture.     Mr.  Pinches  (Inscribed  Babylonian 
Tablets  iu  the  Posession  of  Sir  Henry  Peek,  Bart.,    Port  L  p.  10) 
shows  that  this  sign  stands  for  24  ka.     As  maiihu  was  only  a  general 
term,  the  nutii/ni  mentioned  in  this  tablet  must  consequently  have 
contained  24  ka. 
Lines  23,  33.  i-da-a-ta  must  be  the  plural  of  idu. 
No,  10,  Line  2.     mi-di-il  "measuring,"  Heb.  TIQ  "to  stretch,  to  measure." 
No,  11,  Line  5.     Aram  seems  to  have  been  omitted. 
No,  13,  Line  3.     kat  or  kuta  hands  is  taken  by  Mr.  Pinches  (Insc.  Bab.  Tab.  Part. 

I,  p.  4)  to  mean  "skeins." 
No,  14,  Line  1.     alpu  xm-mn-mi  (mJ«).     "Cattle  in  great  numbers."      nmuuinu  means 
"troops,  people,  army;"   but  it  contains  the  idea  of  number,  I  have 
therefore  rendered  it  thus  here.     {See  Tallq.,  p.  43  for  examples.) 
la  p.4H  ''iSh    Compare  No  25,  line  21  of  Part  I. 


Notes  to  the  Second  Part.  136 

No.  14,  Line  5.     Th&  sign  for  Nabfi  is  erased  at  the  end  of  the  line. 

iVo.  IS,  Line  7.     /<(  gam-ru-tu.      The  la  here  has  the  same  ideomatic  furce  as  the 

Hebrew  preposition. 
iVb.  4€,  Line  3.    bubuni  /tint  Sauiai.      These  were  evidently  the  two  gates  of  the 

temple  of  the  sun-god  at  Sippara,  through  which  the  sacrificial  sheep 

were  brought  iu. 
]jine  16.  The  perpendicular  wedge  before  amllu  is  a  mistake  by  the  scribe. 
3'o,  47.  Line  1.     ma-kur-ra  from  the  same  root  as  theHebrew  ^3)2  "to  sell." 

-    T 

Line  2.     i-fm-ru-nui  for  iJ)u-ru-m(i. 

Line  G.     The  names  compounded  with  Ilu  are  not  common.      A  few  aro 
IpiiUu,  AnulUu,  etc. 
yo,  48.  Line  2.    The  name  LaitH^i  is  spelled  either  La-a-ba-ii  or  iM-ba-a-ii. 
Line  3.     bu-li-ium  must  be  considered  a  variant  for  bilium. 
Line  9.     ki-ml   "sustenance,   support."      (Peiser,  B.  V.  XXIlI,j)  ,ya-ia»i-m« 

DT'tr  "good,  wholesome." 
Line  13.  ku-xir-fu-bu  comes  from  the  same  root  as  j^'^i^  (Lev.  7 '.38),  and  is 
a  by-form  of  the  latter. 
No,  40.  Line  1.     LU.TU.KAL  is  probably  to   be  read  phonetically  as  the  phonetic 
endings  ium  iu  lines  12,  17,  19  and  21,  and  lu  in  line  14,  show.    The 
L  U  is  probably  the  prefixed  determinant.     Compare  L  U.  NIT  A . 
No.  51,  Line  14.  ki-mi-mi  is  a  lengthened  form  of  ki-mi.     Cf.  No.  48  ». 
No.  53.  Line  1.     (amUu)  la-mu-ta-nu.     See  Tallq.  p.  89. 

Line  IG.  The  scribe  by  mistake  wrote  si-hu-hu-a  for  sirhu-u.  and  pa-ki-nu  for 

pa-ki-ra-nu. 
Line  18.  «a  is  evidently  a  needles  repetition. 
No,  54,  Line  9.     iikutini  seems  to  be  a  double  plural  formation. 
No,  56,  Line  11.  rit-tuin    must  mean  something    like   "certificate."      Consult  also 
Peiser  B.  V.  p.  324a. 
Line  15.  {ilu)  Kib-tia'id.     A.  tentative  reading. 
No,  57,  Line  6.     tu-hal-la  lib-bi.  Compare  iuhal-lum  lib-lib-bi,  VeiBer,  B.  V.  CXLVII,; 

also  m-bi  lih-bi,  Strassmaier,  Nabn.  271  '«  "   385  '  «. 
No.  59,  Line  4.    pa-ki-ra-nu.     The  determinative  (amilu)  is  omitted. 
No,  60.  Liue  7.     Marduk-hu-Ut-hu-u-a  means  "Marduk  is  my  forgiveness."    Hebrew 
root  H/D- 
Line  8.     (aiailu)  nisi  is  used  here  as  {amilu)  ijalli. 
No,  61,  Line  4.     Arad-Bil  apal  Arad-BU.      The  two  names  are  distinguished  here  in 
writing,  though  they  are  pronounced  alike. 


136 


The  Metropolitan  Museuvi  of  Art. 


No,  Sl»  Line  5.     Usually  the  tens  precede  the  units,  but  the  reverse  is  the  case  here. 
No,  62,  Line  1.    n-tn-nu  occurs  also  in  Strass.  Nabn.  558,  10. 
No,  &4,  Line  1.     u-nu4u  "utensils."    Consult  A.  &  W.  Sanh.  I,  28. 
Line  2.     iiiiubu,  according  to  Br&nnow  C.  L.  11188. 
Line  14.  {amilu)  {ilu)  Na-[na-a].  iangu  is  omitted.     This  a  frequent  omission 

on  the  contract  tablets. 
No,  65,  Line  5.    pir'u  ina-tum  is  evidently  another  phrase  for  &t.ZlR  translated  by 

Peiser  "seed  (field)."     Here  pir*n  is  equivalent  to  M. B All  otWiw  1, 

and  inu-lum  is  added  to  complete  the  phrase. 

BUU-ahruiu  (Brilnnow  C.  L.  11523)  "Belit  of  the  Future,"   "Belit, 

Goddess  of  Futurity." 

Line  14.  -in  ia  seems  to  be  erased  in  thid  line  on  the  tablet,   as  is  indicated 
by  the  space. 


14  DAY  USE 

RFTURN  TO  DESK  FROM  WHICH  BORROWED 

LOAN  DEPT. 

This  book  is  due  on  the  last  date  stamped  below,  or 

on  the  date  to  which  renewed. 

Renewed  books  are  subject  to  immediate  recalL 


t 


AUTO.  DiS<)^ 


f- 


rrnnrmorrn'* 


LD  21A-60m-4,'64 
(E45o5sV0)476B 


General  Library 

University  of  California 

Berkeley 


Metropolit 
Cuneiform 

MAY  ae  IW* 


AUG  1  T927 

AUG  il^ 


.   N567 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


U.C.  BERKELEY  LIBRARIES 


BDD3DE5t,m 


L 


